Enrol in a public school
Apply to enrol in an ACT public school, including important dates and documents you need.
You can apply to enrol in a public:
- preschool (4-year-old)
- early childhood school (preschool to year 2)
- primary school (kindergarten to year 6)
- high school (years 7 to 10)
- college (years 11 to 12)
- specialist school.
Every ACT child is guaranteed a place at a public school within their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA), from kindergarten to year 12.
If you live in nearby NSW, you are guaranteed a place in a NSW pathway school.
If you apply outside your area, you may not get offered a place at your preferred school.
Check if you can apply
You can only apply if your child lives in the ACT or nearby NSW.
If you’re moving to the ACT or nearby, only apply when you have the required proof you live here. We cannot enrol a child without this proof.
Check our information if you live overseas and want your child to study here as an international student or you are in Australia on a temporary resident visa.
Starting age
Preschool: Your child must be aged 4 on or before 30 April of the year they start preschool. If they turn 4 after 30 April, they can start the following year.
Kindergarten: Your child must be aged 5 on or before 30 April of the year they start school (kindergarten is the first year of primary school).
To find out what year your child can start preschool or school, use our school age calculator.
Your child may be able to start earlier than usual, if they meet the requirements. Find out about early entry to preschool or school.
Compulsory school age
By law, every child in the ACT must attend school (or be registered for home education) from 6 years of age until they complete year 12 or turn 17, whichever happens first.
If this is not possible, or you want to delay your child starting, find out how to get an exemption from full-time schooling.
Important dates
Important dates for a child starting preschool or school in 2026 are:
- 29 April 2025 – applications open.
- 6 June 2025 – apply by this date to get an offer from as early as 28 July 2025.
- 7 June 2025 – applications from this date onwards can expect an offer later in the year.
Find ACT public school term dates and public holidays in the ACT.
How to apply
Completing the form
- It’s easier to fill out the form on a desktop computer rather than a smartphone.
- You can save the form and return to it later using the reference code at the top of the form.
- Once you submit the form, if you need to change any details you’ll need to submit a new form. This will replace the previous version. You can only have one active application at a time.
- The form takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete.
Details you'll need
You'll need these details to complete the form.
You'll need:
- an email address where we can contact you
- a current ACT or ACT region home address
- emergency contact details, preferably someone who lives in the ACT region and not with the child.
If your child was in the 3-year-old initiative and you're enrolling in 4-year-old preschool, you'll need the initiative reference code. You don't need a code if your child was in the free three-year-old preschool program.
If we've approved your child for early entry as a gifted and talented child or child of a parent in the mobile workforce, you'll also need the early entry (EE) number we gave you. Read more about early entry to preschool.
You'll need:
- an email address where we can contact you
- a current ACT or ACT region home address
- emergency contact details, preferably someone who lives in the ACT region and not with the child
- student ID number for the child's current school, if known.
If we've approved your child for early entry as a gifted and talented child or child of a parent in the mobile workforce, you'll also need the early entry (EE) number we gave you. Read more about early entry to school.
You'll need:
- an email address where we can contact you
- a current ACT or ACT region home address
- emergency contact details, preferably someone who lives in the ACT region and not with the child
- student USI number, if known.
You'll need:
- an email address where we can contact you
- a current ACT or ACT region home address
- emergency contact details, preferably someone who lives in the ACT region and not with the child
- student ID number for the child's current school, if known
- visa details
- international students also need their IEARN (student number shown on the Confirmation of Enrolment provided by our International Education Unit), unless in Canberra on a homestay
- dependants of temporary residents also need the Approved Reference Number (ARN) provided by our International Education Unit.
Read our information on international students and enrolling a child (dependant) of a temporary resident.
Apply now
After you apply
Preschool
You will get a Letter of Offer that tells you what to do next.
If you do not get offered your preferred preschool, you can request a review or appeal of an enrolment decision.
Kindergarten to year 12
If you applied to a school in your PEA, you get a Letter of Offer that tells you what to do next. Find out how to accept an enrolment offer.
If you applied to a school outside your PEA, you may not get offered a place there. If this happens, you'll get an offer from a school within your area.
If you want us to review that decision, you can request a review or appeal of an enrolment decision.
Contact us
If you need help at any stage, contact the school directly or contact us.
Email
education.enrolment@act.gov.au
Call
02 6205 5429