The Arrow Early Childhood Plan was approved by the School Board February 12, 2024. McKinley will become the Arrow Early Childhood Center beginning next school year (2024 -2025).

The Watertown School District is proactively addressing the needs of elementary education to enhance educational opportunities for all students and empower them to succeed.

The "Arrow Early Childhood Plan" was presented during the January 8, 2024 School Board Meeting (click to view).

The following video recaps the presentation:

If my child will be a second - fourth grader next year, which school will they attend?

Students already enrolled in Jefferson, Lincoln and Mellette will be allowed to remain at their current schools. McKinley and Roosevelt students will be distributed by following the new district boundaries while considering capacity at the three other schools.

What are the new district boundaries?

View the new map.

When is Preschool Screening?

Eligibility: Screening is for children who will be 4 on or before September 1, 2024.

Dates: Friday, March 8 and Friday, March 22

Location: Mellette Elementary

Appointments Required: Visit this link to sign up.

Required Documents: Bring your child's birth certificate to your appointment.

More information: Please call 605-882-6398 if you need assistance or have any questions.

When is Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten Round-up?

Eligibility: Children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2024.

Grades: All-Day Junior Kindergarten and All-Day Kindergarten

Dates: Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5

Location: Roosevelt Elementary

Appointments Required: Visit this link to sign up.

Required Documents: Bring your child's birth certificate and vaccination records to your appointment.

More information: Please call 605-882-6398 if you need assistance or have any questions.

Will this affect class sizes?

Class size policy will remain the same. K-3 grades have a cap of 23 and 4-6 have a cap of 26 students. (Click to see the Policy)

How does this affect services such as counseling, therapy, and SPED?

A reduction of attendance centers with the same number of support staff will allow for additional service minutes due to reduced travel time and shared staff.

The most common shared staff include PE, music, art, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, nurses, counselors, and school psychologists.

How will my child get to school?

The in-town bus transportation system will be expanded to accommodate the closure of Roosevelt Elementary and the new boundary map.

Transportation information will be available before the new school year!

Administration listened to the community, parents, and the school board during the 2022-2023 school year and composed the new Arrow Early Childhood Plan to address the needs of our students.

A committee with representatives of teachers, parents, community members, 2 school board members, and administration met this fall to discuss elementary schools’ attendance centers. Administration addressed the following with the committee:

• Balanced Class Sizes

• Available space for staff and program needs

• Speech and Occupational Therapy

• Nursing Services

• Elementary SPED Services

  • All-Day Junior Kindergarten

  • Alternative Education Program

  • Reverse Inclusion Preschool

  • Title I Preschool

  • Structured Learning Center

• Early childhood available in Watertown

• English Language Learning

• Ability to respond to fluctuations in birth rate (click to see Department of Health data)

• Staff Travel Times

• Staff Collaboration

• Title Services

• Academic Interventions