Young Five

Young Five
Bridge to Kindergarten

Teacher at a table with kids doing puzzels

Is Young Five Right for My Child?

Young Five serves as a bridge to Kindergarten by providing students time and support to develop core academic and social skills under the care and guidance of professional educators.

Young Five is designed for students who:

  • Will turn 5 years old between May 1st and Sept. 1st
  • Are developmentally young
  • Will benefit from an extra year of school prior to Kindergarten

Young Five provides younger students with a strong foundation for school success by offering:

  • Guided growth by professional educators certified and experienced in Early Childhood
  • Early exposure to Kindergarten curriculum
  • A learning environment tailored to meet developing academic and/or social needs
  • An opportunity to start school with same age children

What will my child learn in Young Five?

LCSD Young Five program is based on the Kindergarten curriculum with focus placed on math and literacy instruction and the development of social and motor skills. Classroom instruction is designed to provide children an opportunity to learn in a hands-on, interactive environment that supports their development on maintaining the rigor and high standards of Kindergarten.

Literacy

  • Share and listen for information
  • Answer questions about stories
  • Identify upper and lowercase letters
  • Identify all letter sounds
  • Increase vocabulary

Math

  • Count aloud to 25
  • Identify numbers 0-10
  • Write numbers 0-10
  • Copy and create simple patterns
  • Add and subtract small quantities using concrete objects

Motor Skills

  • Strengthen hand and muscles through cutting, coloring, drawing, and painting
  • Develop hand-eye coordination
  • Grip writing utensils correctly

Social Skills

  • Work and play cooperatively with others
  • Participate in individual, small group, and large group classroom activities
  • Ask for help when needed
  • Take responsibility for personal belongings
  • Attend to self-care bathroom hand washing and dressing

Locations

Elementary Schools with Young Five Program:

  • Cape Elementary
  • Edgewood Academy
  • Harns Marsh Elementary
  • James Stephens Elementary
  • Lehigh Elementary
  • Orangewood Elementary
  • Patriot Elementary
  • San Carlos Elementary
  • Spring Creek Elementary
  • Sunshine Elementary
  • Tropic Isles Elementary

How can I enroll my child in a Young Five Program?

  • Contact the school offering the program.
  • Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Young Five different from Kindergarten?

The Young Five curriculum is based on kindergarten standards modified to meet the academic social and emotional needs of younger children. The Young Five environment includes more opportunities for social and emotional language development and communication through small group instruction and intentional teaching through hands-on activities.

Does Young Five support children who do not speak English?

Yes, English learners are welcome in the Young Five program and will have the same level of services as those in Kindergarten.

What grade will children go into after Young Five?

Young Five is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten experience. Children will go to Kindergarten after completing Young Five. Families and schools will also work together to determine if Young Five students are ready to progress to 1st grade.

Testimonials

About a year ago, I was very afraid that my son would not adapt to school. We had recently arrived in the country, and he did not know English. The Young Five Program was the best choice for my son. Mrs. Annarumma should receive all the merit. She taught my son English, how to read, work with numbers, write sentences, and he loves to make her pictures. I am a happy and grateful mom for this school, his teachers, and all who make this school possible every day. If your child has this opportunity, taking it would undoubtedly be your best choice.

Yahima Villegas

When my daughter was about to start kindergarten, I decided that Young Five was the best thing for her. This program has allowed my daughter to learn without being pressured by her studies. My daughter loves school, her teachers. Because of Young Five, she is much more prepared for Kindergarten. She has made friends, and is excited about learning. We are delighted with her experience.

Arlett Lay

We are thrilled to have opted for the Young Five Program this past school year for our May-born daughter. It was an ideal setting to support her both socially and academically and offered the perfect developmentally-appropriate balance of play-based learning and early academic foundations. Her classroom teacher encouraged creativity, collaboration, and a true love of learning. We watched our daughter become noticeably more confident and more independent with a clear readiness for Kindergarten next year. The Young Five Program exceeded our expectations and we couldn't recommend it more!

The Colvins

Choosing the Young Five program for my son was truly one of the best decisions I’ve made as a parent. Knowing he'd have an extra year to build a strong foundation, both academically and socially, gave me such peace of mind. Additionally, the support he's received from his teacher has been invaluable. The transformation I’ve witnessed in him this year is amazing – he's truly thriving! We now look forward to kindergarten with such excitement! I am confident that he's more than ready, thanks to this nurturing program. If you're looking to give your child a strong, supportive, and truly confidence-building start to their school journey, I wholeheartedly recommend the Young Five program. It has made all the difference! I am forever grateful.

Cara Chase