Kindergarten is not mandatory and children are not required to attend school until age 6. Because kindergarten has become increasingly academically oriented and is an important foundation for first grade, the vast majority of families do enroll their children in kindergarten at age 5.
For kindergarten, a child must turn five before December 3 of the year he or she enters. For first grade, most schools say the child must be six before December 3. Check with the school district as some do make exceptions.
There are various before and after school services provided at the schools. Please check with your individual school for services available at that site.