Welcome to Cambridge Public Schools!
Students who satisfy the age, residency, and health requirements may register their child for school by completing a complete registration packet and submitting it to the Student Registration Center. Between September and June, applications for immediate enrollment are processed on a daily basis, and students can usually begin attending school within 2-5 days of their registration being completed. You can start the process by downloading the registration application and other required forms from our Forms Page.
Your child’s school assignment will be limited by the number of seats at each school within your family’s socioeconomic status (SES) category, as determined by the voluntary disclosure of your family’s eligibility for the federal free and reduced lunch program. We recommend that families contact the Student Registration Center to learn about the length of waitlists at various schools.
Registrations for the following September will be accepted as of the first business day each January. If the school you are interested in already has a waiting list, we cannot give your family priority over families who registered before you. It is wise to consider choices that will reduce the risk of your child being mandatorily assigned.
Parents will be notified of their child's school assignment during the month of August, after we have determined seat availability and the capacity of each school at each grade. Among the factors that must be determined are the number of students promoted from the previous grade, mainstreaming Sheltered English Immersion students, waiting lists and transfer requests.
We know that waiting for a school assignment can create some anxiety for new families who are already going through a great deal of change and transition. Please know that we will not forget about your child, and that we will be able to offer a placement before school begins. Reassure your child that they will be going to a great school, and explore the CPS website to give them a positive picture of several different schools where they may be assigned. If you have any questions or would like an update on the status of your child’s application, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
For further guidance contact the Student Registration Center:
Hours: Monday - Friday | 8:30AM - 3:30PM
Tel: 617.349.6551 | Fax: 617.349.6552
Email the SRC
Staff are available to assist you during business hours all year long, except holidays.
CPS Classroom Size (Grades K-8): Contractual Limits & Target Capacity