Registering for first grade in Jerusalem
Registration for first grade is handled by the Jerusalem Municipality, not by the school. We have gathered here what parents ask us most, with links to the official sources.
The information is based on the Jerusalem Municipality website and refers to the 5787 school year. Dates change from year to year, so before taking any step it is worth checking the municipality registration page (in Hebrew).
Who registers, and when
Under the Compulsory Education Law, registration for first grade applies to parents of children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020.
Registration opens on 19 January 2026 and closes on 8 February 2026. Between 9 February and 9 March the system is closed for placement, and it reopens on 10 March.
Can you choose any school?
Residents of Jerusalem register for one of four streams: state, state religious, recognised but unofficial, or state haredi.
Worth knowing, in the municipality’s own words: registering for a particular school does not grant the right to study there. Placement is announced later, and the municipality may move pupils to nearby schools with available places if the number of applicants exceeds capacity.
What happens when there are more applicants than places
In that case a lottery is held among the applicants, according to an order of priority set by the municipality.
How to register online
Registration is online and takes six steps: identification using the ID numbers of the child and of the registering parent, updating the pupil’s details, the parents’ details, choosing institutions and marking preferences, and finally a declaration and submission.
Your address determines which institutions are offered to you, so it is important to make sure it is up to date. If you are moving house before 1 September, register according to your current address and submit an appeal.
Placement and appeals
Placement in the general sector is published from 31 May.
You can appeal within 7 working days of receiving the placement. The education administration considers requests to change placement according to the law and regulations, educational policy, and the number of places available at the requested school.
Thinking of keeping your child in kindergarten another year?
Deferring the move to first grade is considered in exceptional cases only, along two tracks: children born September to December 2020, or children born January to August 2020 who meet defined conditions, such as serious illness, prolonged hospitalisation, trauma, or recent immigration.
Even if the question arises, register for first grade on time, until a final decision is made. Children born in November and December register twice, for kindergarten and for school.
The kindergarten teacher submits the forms to the psychological service by 1 March, and answers are given by 25 May.
Accessibility arrangements, and those new to the city
Children and parents with disabilities are entitled to accessibility arrangements, and early registration is possible from June of the preceding year, so that the institution can be adapted in advance.
Residents new to the city register at the registration centre at Safra Square, building 3, bringing a cancellation of registration from the previous authority, copies of the parents’ ID cards and a housing contract.
Registration itself is a technical process with the municipality, but the choice behind it is personal. If you are undecided, it is worth visiting, asking questions and getting a feel for the atmosphere.
Dates and procedures change from year to year. The information here refers to the 5787 school year, and before taking any step it is worth verifying it against the Jerusalem Municipality website.
Have a question about first grade at Geulim itself? Arrange a visit or leave your details.