Choosing a School for Your Child: Kindergarten to Junior High

Written by Fajar Webarq. Updated October 26, 2026.

Summary

• Kindergarten (TK) is not a requirement for entering elementary school, so choose based on the needs of children aged 4 to 6.
• Age rules, admission paths, and quotas for SD (elementary) and SMP (junior high) under the SPMB student admission system are set out in Permendikdasmen 3/2025. Madrasah follow the Ministry of Religious Affairs' technical guidelines (juknis).
• Before you apply, check the school's type, licenses, and accreditation on official portals.

This page is the starting point for all school selection guides on this site, from kindergarten through junior high. It covers the key decision at each level, the official rules, a summary of each guide, and government portals for checking school data. All rules are taken from the regulatory texts, not school brochures.

Key Decisions by Level

Each level involves a different key decision. In kindergarten, the question is your child's needs and readiness, since TK is not a requirement for SD. In elementary school, the question is the type of school and the age rules. In junior high, the question is which SPMB admission path fits best and whether your graduation documents from SD are complete.

Kindergarten (TK, ages 4 to 6)

• TK and RA (Raudhatul Athfal, Islamic kindergarten) are formal early childhood education (PAUD). Playgroups (KB) and child day-care centers (TPA) are nonformal (UU 20/2003 Article 28).
• Group A is for ages 4 to 5, and group B is for ages 5 to 6 (Permendikdasmen 3/2025 Article 10).
• The explanation of Article 28 of the National Education System Law (UU Sisdiknas) states that PAUD is not a prerequisite for basic education.
• A 13-year compulsory education that includes one year of preschool is already in the draft revision of the National Education System Law (Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, June 2025). As of July 2026, the draft is still in the harmonization stage in the House of Representatives (DPR).

Elementary school (SD, ages 6 to 7)

• Options include public elementary (SD negeri), private elementary (SD swasta, including SDIT), MI (Islamic elementary school), SPK (cooperation education unit), and homeschooling.
• Children who turn 7 by July 1 get priority, and children who are at least 6 may apply. Applicants are not required to take tests in reading, writing, and arithmetic (Article 11).
• MI follow the Ministry of Religious Affairs' technical guidelines, with slightly different age rules.

Junior high school (SMP, graduates of SD, maximum age 15)

• Applicants must be 15 or younger as of July 1 and must have completed SD or an equivalent. Proof is a diploma or a certificate of graduation (Articles 12 and 14).
• The minimum quotas are 40% for the domicile path, 20% for the affirmation path, and 25% for the achievement path. Transfers are capped at 5% (Article 30). The achievement path uses report card grades from the last five semesters or proof of achievement (Article 20).
• If the domicile path is full, distance is prioritized first, and age second (Article 43).
• The age limit for MTs (Islamic junior high) is also 15. The madrasah technical guidelines accept diplomas from both SD and MI.

School Selection Guides

The guides below help you compare school types, curricula, and school quality before you apply. If your child is entering grade 1, start with the SD checklist. If you are weighing a cooperation school or a madrasah, start with the comparison table. Each summary links to its full guide.

How to choose an elementary school. A checklist of 10 criteria for choosing an SD, covering children's readiness, distance and domicile path, accreditation, curriculum, and total costs over six years. The guide also includes open house questions, a summary of SPMB rules, and a comparison worksheet you can fill in after each visit.

What is an SPK school. An explanation of the cooperation education unit (Satuan Pendidikan Kerja Sama) under Permendikbud 31/2014: required subjects for Indonesian citizen students, the composition of Indonesian teachers, the ban on using the word "Internasional" in school names, and its position outside the SPMB paths. The guide also explains how to check an SPK's school type, license validity period, and accreditation.

Differences between public, private, SDIT, MI, and SPK elementary schools. One table compares five types of SD by operator, legal basis, curriculum, admission method, registration fees, and age rules, with a "best suited for families who..." row. Each cell is referenced to its regulation. The guide also explains why SDIT is recorded as a private SD in official data.

Questions to ask at a school open house. A list of questions to bring to an open house or school visit: class size, curriculum, handling of bullying, components and history of fee increases, child progress reports, and safety of school transport. Asking the same questions at every school makes your comparison fairer and less dependent on first impressions.

How to check school accreditation. Steps for checking the accreditation of schools and madrasah on the BAN-PDM website using the school name or NPSN, how to read the rating and expiry year, and how to complete the check with operating license data from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education's Reference Data portal. Do this check before you pay an entrance fee (uang pangkal) or registration fee.

Registration Guides

The Registration cluster covers requirements and procedures once you have chosen a school: age, documents, entrance tests, and transfers. SPMB rules apply to admissions run by local governments. Private schools, MI, and SPK set their own schedules and procedures, so read the rules that apply to your school.

Age requirements for entering SD. Age rules for entering SD under Permendikdasmen 3/2025: children who turn 7 by July 1 get priority, children who are at least 6 may apply, and there is an exception for children who are at least 5 years 6 months old with a recommendation from a psychologist or the teaching board. The guide also compares these rules with the age rules at madrasah ibtidaiyah.

Official Data Sources for Parents

Four government portals are enough to verify nearly every claim a school makes: status, licenses, accreditation, and admission rules. Have the school's NPSN (national school identification number) ready before you search, since school names can be similar. For SPMB schedules and quotas in your area, refer to the announcements from your local education office.

The SPMB registration announcement must be made no later than the first week of May (Article 38 of Permendikdasmen 3/2025).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need to attend kindergarten before elementary school?

No. The explanation of Article 28 of the National Education System Law states that PAUD is not a prerequisite for basic education. For SD, age is proven by a birth certificate or birth statement, not a kindergarten diploma.

When should I start choosing a school?

Ideally one year before the new school year. SPMB announcements are made no later than the first week of May, while private schools, MI, and SPK set their own schedules.

What is the age limit for entering junior high?

The maximum age is 15 as of July 1 of the current year, and the child must have completed SD or an equivalent (Permendikdasmen 3/2025 Article 12). The age limit for MTs is the same.

Is an international school the same as an SPK school?

Not exactly. Its official status is SPK, and SPK schools are not allowed to use the word "Internasional" in their names. Read What is an SPK school.

Next Steps

If your child is entering SD, start with the SD selection checklist, then choose a school type using the comparison table of public, private, SDIT, MI, and SPK elementary schools. Finally, check the age requirements for entering SD.