Registration

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open!

Registration for returning students entering grades 1-8, entering kindergarten if they attended First Steps Preschool, and returning to First Steps is completed through the Parent Portal.

Log into the Parent Portal and choose "Forms" on the left-hand side of the Home Page.
Follow the step-by-step instructions. (en español)
Information on creating an account or using the Portal.

Families new to the District with a child ready to enter grades 1st - 8th or a new kindergarten student?

Confirm residency within District 63 boundaries using our School Locator.
- Students attending District 63 schools must legally reside within the District’s boundaries. It is a criminal offense to enroll a non-resident student, except as allowed by law. Public school districts are supported by local tax dollars, and falsifying residency is an added burden on our taxpayers.
Once residency is confirmed, complete the Initial Registration Worksheet to begin the registration process.
- Initial Registration Worksheet - 2025-2026 (Next School Year)
- Initial Registration Worksheet - 2024-2025 (Current School Year) PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR - NOT NEXT YEAR.
Be sure you have a certified copy of your child's birth certificate. PLEASE NOTE: if the birth certificate is in a language other than English, you must have it officially translated.
Once your Parent Portal account is set up, follow the step-by-step instructions. (en español)

Note: Children entering kindergarten must be five years old as of September 1.

School Locator Map - Boundaries

New Families: What Happens Next?

For New Families: What happens next?

Once the initial Registration Worksheet is submitted, the school will email you information about how to set up a Parent Portal account.
Once your Parent Portal account is set up, complete the rest of your registration through this portal. If you have technical difficulties or need assistance, email your school.

Our Parent Portal includes a “Required Documents” section. If you can, provide scanned or digital copies of your child's birth certificate and the proof of residency, as requested. In any case, you will need to provide these before your registration is approved. If you are unable to provide scanned or digital documents, you may bring your documents to the school office.

What do I need to have on hand to register online?

You will need to have a birth certificate, proof of District residency, and completed health information forms, if possible. If it is not possible to submit completed forms at registration, please note that students can not start the school year without submitting completed forms.

Preschool?

Establishing Student Residency

Category I (One document required)
Homeowners:
- Mortgage papers
- Most recent month’s mortgage statement
- Form 1098
- New homeowners (last 6 months) - Closing Disclosure for the purchase of the home
- Most recent property tax bill and *proof of payment, e.g., canceled check
Renters
- Lease agreement signed by both parties AND *proof of last month's rent payment.
- In lieu of lease - Letter of Residence from Landlord in Lieu of Lease (7:60-AP2. E1) AND *proof of last month's rent payment. Please reach out to the school office.
Living with a District Resident: English, Spanish
- I am living with someone else who is the homeowner or lease tenant - Letter of Residence to be Used When the Person Seeking to Enroll a Student is Living with a District Resident (7:60-AP2. E2) If you select this option, you will be required to complete additional residency requirements. Please reach out to the school office.

Category II (Two documents required)

Current Driver’s License
Current State of Illinois ID Card
Vehicle registration
Current credit card bill
Current bank statement
Voter registration or moving van rental
Current public aid card
Most recent month’s cable television, internet, and telephone bill
Current homeowners/renters insurance policy and premium payment receipt
Most recent month’s gas, electric, and/or water bill

*Proof of payment can include copy of front and back of cleared check from bank, copy of money order, copy of cashier's check, payment receipt with landlord's signature and phone number, or an electronic payment receipt with information corresponding to information in the Category I document.

Documents required for residency: English, Spanish

CLEAR

D63 checks the residency of all new and returning students in February/March each year using a public records database called CLEAR Batch. Families may receive an email from the District requesting additional information in order to enroll their student(s). This can happen for two reasons:

CLEAR Batch identified inconsistent or insufficient public records for that family
The family may have been randomly selected to provide additional documentation.

If we were unable to verify your residency, or you were randomly selected, you will be asked to provide proof of residency during registration.

District Map

Student Fees: FAQs

How are fees established?
Fees are approved every year by the Board of Education. They help cover a very small portion of the overall cost of materials and services for students. Review the fee list.

Do you take credit cards?
Yes. You can pay with a credit card online in your PushCoin account. You can also do so at your child's school office.

When are fees due?
Fees are due as soon as they are assessed in your PushCoin account. For returning students, fees will be assessed soon after registration opens. Fees for optional items (busing, athletics) will be assessed once participation is confirmed. New students will be assessed fees and invoiced once their registration is approved.

We moved into District 63 in the middle of the school year. Do I still have to pay for the full-year registration cost?
Some fees are prorated based on when your child starts school such as Book / Materials Fee, Technology Fee, and the Universal Fee.

If the student starts school between November 1 but no later than the end of February, the student will only have to pay two-thirds of the full cost of the fees.
If the student starts school on or after March 1, the student will only have to pay one-third of the full cost of the fees.
The amount due is automatically calculated and assessed in your child's PushCoin account.

I believe my child is owed a refund. How can I claim it?

Please review our District's refund policy and procedures.

What if my child qualifies for a fee waiver?
Please refer to our Fee Waiver Information.

Need Help?

Apollo School - 847.827.6231 at registration.apo@emsd63.org
Gemini Middle School - 847.827.1181 at registration.gem@emsd63.org
Mark Twain School - 847.296.5341 at registration.twa@emsd63.org
Melzer School - 847.965.7474 at registration.mel@emsd63.org
Nelson School - 847.965.0050 at registration.nel@emsd63.org
Washington School - 847.965.4780 at registration.was@emsd63.org
Early Learning Center - 847.745.6487 at firststeps@emsd63.org
District Office - 847.299.1900 at district411@emsd63.org

Obtaining a Birth Certificate

With the start of a new school year just around the corner, the Cook County Clerk's office has released a new video detailing how to get a birth certificate.

There are five ways to obtain a birth certificate: in person at the downtown Vital Records office or one of the five suburban courthouses; by mail; at a currency exchange; online; or by phone. Anyone requesting a birth certificate must be 18 years old or be a parent whose name appears on the birth record. More information can be found at cookcountyclerk.com/vitalrecords

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