Hawthorn District 73 Kindergarten: Vernon Hills Guide

Updated November 2026. Dates and rules come from Hawthorn District 73. Check hawthorn73.org before you register, since details can change.

If your child turns 5 on or before September 1, 2027 and you live in Hawthorn School District 73, you can register them for kindergarten for the 2027-28 school year. New student registration usually opens in early February. You pre-register online, then finish at an in-person appointment at the district office with your documents and your child's original birth certificate.

Here is how kindergarten works in District 73, which schools children attend, and what to prepare.

Which families are in District 73?

Hawthorn District 73 is a preschool through eighth grade district based in Vernon Hills. It serves all or parts of Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Libertyville, Indian Creek and nearby unincorporated Lake County. Some Vernon Hills addresses are in other school districts, so check your address with the district's boundary lookup before you plan anything.

If you live in Lincolnshire or Grayslake, see our Grayslake and Lincolnshire district guide.

Where do District 73 kindergartners go to school?

Most District 73 kindergartners attend the Hawthorn School for Young Learners, a kindergarten building at 637 N. Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills. It opened in 2020.

The other option is the Hawthorn School of Dual Language at 810 N. Aspen Drive, a kindergarten through fifth grade school that teaches in Spanish and English. If you are interested in dual language, ask the district registrars about placement when you register.

Is District 73 kindergarten full day?

Yes. The Hawthorn School for Young Learners lists school hours of 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with a 2:30 PM dismissal on Wednesdays. That is a full school day, so many families only need care before and after school, plus on school breaks and the shorter Wednesday afternoon. See our guide to before and after school care for kindergartners.

Age cutoff and early entrance

Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1 of their kindergarten year. That is the same cutoff used across Illinois. See the Illinois kindergarten age cutoff.

District 73 also has an early entrance process for children born between September 1 and December 31. For the 2027-28 school year:

• Submit the Early Entrance Request form by April 30, 2027.
• Your child is assessed in early reading and early math, with a required score at or above the 90th percentile on the FastBridge spring benchmarks, or the 95th percentile on the KTEA.
• A teacher rating of social-emotional skills must fall in the typical range, and staff also look at how your child separates from a parent.
• Families hear the decision before July 1, 2027. The team's decision is final.

The bar is high on purpose. Most children with fall birthdays start the following year, and that is a normal path. Our post on kindergarten redshirting covers how parents think about timing.

How to register for District 73 kindergarten

1. Check eligibility. Use the district's find-your-school tool to confirm your address is in District 73.
2. Pre-register online. New student registration usually opens in early February. The link is on the Kindergarten Enrollment page at hawthorn73.org.
3. Book your appointment. After you submit the form, you get an email to schedule an in-person appointment with the registrars at the district office, 841 West End Court, Vernon Hills. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Plan for at least 45 minutes.
4. Bring your documents and your child's original birth certificate to the appointment.
5. Turn in health forms within 30 days of enrollment.

The district also holds a kindergarten information meeting for parents each winter. In 2026 it was on February 4 at Hawthorn Middle School North, with presentations in English and Spanish. Watch the district site for the 2027 date.

What documents do you need?

District 73 asks for proof of residency in three parts. You bring one document from each category:

• Photo ID for the parent or guardian.
• Proof of where you live: a current mortgage statement, a signed and dated lease, your most recent property tax bill, closing documents from a recent purchase, or a notarized residency form if you do not own or lease your home.
• A second proof of address: a utility bill from the last 30 days, a current homeowner or renter insurance statement, or a vehicle registration.

You also need your child's original birth certificate. Illinois requires a physical exam and immunizations for kindergarten, plus a dental exam and an eye exam on their own deadlines. Our guide to Illinois kindergarten health requirements lists them.

District 73 preschool

District 73 has a preschool program at the Lincoln Early Learning Center in Mundelein. To be considered, your child must attend a district preschool screening, which looks at motor skills, speech and language, early concepts and social-emotional development. Screenings are held several times through the school year, and you set one up by calling the preschool office. If you have concerns about your child's development, the screening is also a good first step. See free preschool screening in Illinois.

A simple timeline for 2027-28

• Now through January: confirm your district, gather residency documents, and ask your pediatrician when to schedule the kindergarten physical.
• Winter: attend the kindergarten information meeting.
• Early February: pre-register online and book your appointment.
• By April 30: early entrance requests, if that applies to you.
• Spring and summer: line up before and after school care and summer plans.

Frequently asked questions

When does Hawthorn District 73 kindergarten registration open?

New student registration usually opens in early February for the school year that starts that fall.

Is kindergarten full day in Vernon Hills?

In District 73, yes. The Hawthorn School for Young Learners runs 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM, with an earlier 2:30 PM dismissal on Wednesdays.

Can my child start kindergarten early in District 73?

Children born from September 1 to December 31 can apply for early entrance. They need high scores on reading, math and social-emotional assessments, and the request is due by April 30.

Is there a dual language kindergarten in Vernon Hills?

Yes. The Hawthorn School of Dual Language teaches in Spanish and English from kindergarten through fifth grade. Ask the registrars about placement.

Children's Land in Vernon Hills

Children's Land has a location at 2 E. Phillip Road in Vernon Hills, with daycare and preschool, open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Every location serves hot breakfast and lunch. Children's Land also has a private kindergarten program, so ask the Vernon Hills location which programs it offers for your child's age. Learn about our preschool program, see the Vernon Hills location page, or contact us to schedule a tour.

Related reading: Kindergarten Registration in Illinois: Documents and Deadlines.