Parents/guardians of children living in Durham and Middlefield who will be five (5) years old on or before January 1, 2024 must register to attend kindergarten in the fall of 2023 or apply for a waiver of attendance. In Regional School District 13, children may attend kindergarten at Brewster School or John Lyman School. You will need to choose the appropriate school for your child prior to kindergarten registration.

Brewster School houses students in preschool through grade 2 and John Lyman School serves students in kindergarten through grade 4.  Please understand that there are many similarities between Lyman and Brewster, and the schools follow the same curriculum.  

Both schools will post detailed information about kindergarten on their respective websites. The postings will include specific details about the individual schools along with more general information about kindergarten choice and registration in RSD13.  After viewing these resources, parents are welcome to contact building principals if they have further questions or call the main office(s) to schedule tours at one or both schools.

The school choice decision for kindergarten needs to be made by Friday, March 10th.  We will make every effort to honor your first choice pending space and enrollment.  If a choice is not made by that date, your child may not be able to attend the school chosen by his or her parent(s) or guardian(s).  Once your decision is made, please contact the main office of the school where you wish to register.  The school will then send you information and instructions for registration. Registration must be completed in accordance with published timelines in your registration packet to guarantee your child’s place in the school that you selected.

Please share this information with others you may know who have children eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2023. Any parent or guardian of an eligible kindergarten child who wishes to hold his/her child out of school for another year must sign a waiver of attendance at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.