Welcome Center, Centro de Bienvenida

RaMona Stahl, Supervisor
Astrid Chavarria Ramirez, Registrar and Assessor

Located at:
HCPS Family Resource Center
640 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Limited parking is available on the side of the building for compact cars.  These parking places can be reached from the front of the building on South Main Street.  A large parking lot is available at the back of the building and is accessible from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  Please come to the front entrance when you arrive.

Phone: 540-433-3644
Email: welcomecenter@harrisonburg.k12.va.us
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
Open year-round, January through December

The Welcome Center is a service of Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS).  

• The Welcome Center facilitates enrollment for ALL NEW STUDENTS (PreK–12th grade) into HCPS.
• In addition, if your student previously attended a HCPS school, withdrew for a period of time, and is now returning to HCPS, the Welcome Center will assist you in re-enrolling your student(s). 
• Call the Welcome Center at 540-433-3644 to schedule an enrollment/re-enrollment appointment. 

Kindergarten Enrollment

Kindergarten Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is open now!

Children that turn five years of age on or prior to September 30th of the current year are eligible to enroll for kindergarten in HCPS for the upcoming school year.  Upcoming kindergarten students who did not attend PreK in HCPS should enroll at the Welcome Center. Call today to schedule an enrollment appointment for your rising kindergarten student.

Applying for PreK Services

Children who turn 4 years of age on or prior to September 30th are encouraged to apply for early childhood education services.  HCPS provides early childhood education to PreK children that qualify for those services.  An appointment must be made with the Welcome Center to apply for services for four year olds. 

To apply to a Head Start program (3 year olds only), complete the online application at Shenandoah Valley Head Start. 

Step by Step Procedures for Registering Your Child (all languages)

Note:  It is important for students to have up-to-date immunizations and physicals before the start of school, so we encourage families to make sure they are scheduling those as soon as possible.

Registering Your Child

At the Welcome Center a Registration Facilitator will complete all necessary registration for your child. The Registration Facilitator will review documentation such as birth certificate, health information, vaccination records, educational records, and family information. This information will help teachers and administrators to better serve you and your child. The answers you provide are kept confidential.

Documents And Information Needed For Registration

• Birth Certificate
• Legal Guardianship
• Proof of Residency in Harrisonburg City
• Immunization Records/Physical
• School Records of Previous School
• Health Insurance Card

Assess The English Level Of Your Child

All students and families that speak other languages than English will meet with an Assessment Administrator. The academic level of your child in Reading as well as his or her knowledge of English will be evaluated. Students cannot fail or pass these tests. Results are used only to help the school administration and teachers provide the academic support that your child will need to succeed in school.
 

Select A Special English Program

Special programs are available for students who have limited or no English. They are called English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. Participation in these programs are always optional. The teachers and assistants who test your child will recommend the most appropriate program. The emphasis of our ESL program is to help your child learn academic English, which is necessary to be successful in school and in the world beyond school.
 

To Provide Information

Please ask for any school related information that will help you and your child have a successful and comfortable beginning in Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Also, after your child has started school, you may call us if you need language translation or interpretation, or more information about school.

The Welcome Center can help connect you to a number of programs and agencies in the community that provide health, economic assistance, literacy, childcare, interpretation and other services.

We welcome you to Harrisonburg City Public Schools and wish you and your child much success.
 

Time Expectation

The amount of time you and your child will spend at the Welcome Center in order to complete registration and testing will vary according to the number of children in a family, the student’s grade level, and how much time a student takes to complete testing. (Tests are not timed, so a student may take all the time he or she needs to complete the tests.) It will also save time if you bring all the required documents at the time of your appointment.

In order to be fair to all parents and children, if you arrive late you may have to reschedule your appointment. We will make every effort to accommodate your schedule and interview you as soon as possible.

In most instances, the duration of the interview with the Registration Facilitator takes about one hour. Student testing will last between one and two hours or more, depending on the student’s age and effort. Older students usually take more tests than younger ones. Some students like to take more time to do good work and we ask that you allow your child to work at their own pace. You will need to stay with your child at the Welcome Center until he or she is finished. Of course, children (and adults) perform better when they are well rested and adequately fed. Please be mindful that your child has a good night's rest and has had a balanced meal prior to coming in to register. You are welcome to bring a healthy snack for you or your child.