Kindergarten Start Age Calculator: Cutoff Dates by State
Find the first kindergarten year for your child from their birthdate and state cutoff date. See age at entry and days until eligible.
Quick 1-Click Birthday & State Presets
Child Information & State Jurisdiction
Eligible School Year
2026- 2027
Kindergarten Fall Cohort
Age at Intake
5yrs5mos
Plus 22 days at cutoff
Days to Cutoff
0
Preparation & readiness runway
State Cutoff Date
September 1
California Statutory Law
Birth-to-Kindergarten Developmental Chronology
Visual alignment of birthdate, 5th birthday milestone, state cutoff deadline, and school entry.
US State Kindergarten Cutoff Dates Matrix (All 50 States & DC)
Statutory age-5 cutoff dates compiled from state education departments and the Education Commission of the States.
| State | Cutoff Date | Minimum Age | District Discretion & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Statewide statutory cutoff. |
| Alaska (AK) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Local district exceptions permitted. |
| Arizona (AZ) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Districts may admit early after readiness screening. |
| Arkansas (AR) | August 1 | 5 Years Old | Strict statewide cutoff. |
| California (CA)Selected | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Transitional Kindergarten (TK) available for fall birthdays. |
| Colorado (CO) | October 1 | 5 Years Old | Local school board discretion allowed. |
| Connecticut (CT) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Updated to September 1 starting fall 2024. |
| Delaware (DE) | August 31 | 5 Years Old | Must be 5 before first day of September. |
| Florida (FL) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Mandatory statewide requirement. |
| Georgia (GA) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Voluntary pre-K program widely available. |
| Hawaii (HI) | July 31 | 5 Years Old | Earliest cutoff date in the United States. |
| Idaho (ID) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Kindergarten attendance optional by state statute. |
| Illinois (IL) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Early assessment waivers available. |
| Indiana (IN) | August 1 | 5 Years Old | School districts offer appeal waivers. |
| Iowa (IA) | September 15 | 5 Years Old | Mid-September cutoff window. |
| Kansas (KS) | August 31 | 5 Years Old | Must turn 5 on or before August 31. |
| Kentucky (KY) | August 1 | 5 Years Old | Strict August 1 rule. |
| Louisiana (LA) | September 30 | 5 Years Old | Late September cutoff window. |
| Maine (ME) | October 15 | 5 Years Old | Late autumn state cutoff. |
| Maryland (MD) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Early entry evaluations offered. |
| Massachusetts (MA) | August 31 | 5 Years Old | Set at local municipal district discretion. |
| Michigan (MI) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Parent waiver available for children turning 5 by Dec 1. |
| Minnesota (MN) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Comprehensive early childhood screening required. |
| Mississippi (MS) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Must be 5 on or before September 1. |
| Missouri (MO) | August 1 | 5 Years Old | Certain metropolitan districts use different cutoffs. |
| Montana (MT) | September 10 | 5 Years Old | Local trustees may grant exceptions. |
| Nebraska (NE) | July 31 | 5 Years Old | Late July early cutoff date. |
| Nevada (NV) | September 30 | 5 Years Old | State board regulation. |
| New Hampshire (NH) | September 30 | 5 Years Old | Determined by local school district policy. |
| New Jersey (NJ) | October 1 | 5 Years Old | Varies locally between October 1 and December 1. |
| New Mexico (NM) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Pre-K expansion initiatives active. |
| New York (NY) | December 1 | 5 Years Old | NYC uses December 31 calendar year cutoff. |
| North Carolina (NC) | August 31 | 5 Years Old | Must turn 5 on or before August 31. |
| North Dakota (ND) | July 31 | 5 Years Old | Early July cutoff. |
| Ohio (OH) | August 1 | 5 Years Old | Districts choose either August 1 or September 30. |
| Oklahoma (OK) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Universal 4-year-old pre-K available. |
| Oregon (OR) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Full-day kindergarten standard statewide. |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Local district cutoff policies apply. |
| Rhode Island (RI) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Statewide regulation. |
| South Carolina (SC) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Mandatory kindergarten attendance. |
| South Dakota (SD) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Local school board governance. |
| Tennessee (TN) | August 15 | 5 Years Old | Mid-August statewide deadline. |
| Texas (TX) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Must be 5 on or before September 1. |
| Utah (UT) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Full-day kindergarten expanded statewide. |
| Vermont (VT) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | Local district discretion. |
| Virginia (VA) | September 30 | 5 Years Old | Late September statewide cutoff. |
| Washington (WA) | August 31 | 5 Years Old | Waiver screening available. |
| West Virginia (WV) | July 1 | 5 Years Old | July 1 summer cutoff. |
| Wisconsin (WI) | September 1 | 5 Years Old | 4K kindergarten programs widespread. |
| Wyoming (WY) | August 1 | 5 Years Old | August 1 cutoff. |
| Washington D.C. (DC) | September 30 | 5 Years Old | Universal PK3 and PK4 available. |
Worked Example: California vs Texas Cutoff Comparison (Born March 10 vs Sep 15)
Determining statutory kindergarten intake cohort years based on September 1 state deadlines:
Case A: Spring Birthday
Born March 10, 2021
State A: California (CA)
Cutoff Date: September 1
Case B: Autumn Birthday
Born September 15, 2021
State B: Texas (TX)
Cutoff Date: September 1
Eligibility Determinations:
•1. Case A Eligibility Check (2026): On September 1, 2026, Child A is 5 years, 5 months, and 22 days old.
•2. Case A Outcome: Child A exceeds the minimum 5.0-year statutory requirement on Sep 1, 2026. Eligible for the 2026-2027 school year.
•3. Case B Eligibility Check (2026): On September 1, 2026, Child B is 4 years, 11 months, and 17 days old.
•4. Case B Outcome: Child B is under 5 years old on the cutoff date. Ineligible for fall 2026 kindergarten.
•5. Case B Rollover Check (2027): On September 1, 2027, Child B is 5 years, 11 months, and 17 days old.
•6. Case B Final Cohort: Eligible for the 2027-2028 school year as an older 5-year-old approaching age 6.
💡 Educational Transition Insight: Child A enters kindergarten in Fall 2026 at age 5.46 years. Child B enters kindergarten in Fall 2027 at age 5.96 years (or enrolls in Transitional Kindergarten / Pre-K for 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
Authoritative Early Childhood & Educational Policy References
Education Commission of the States (ECS) - Kindergarten State Policies
National comparative database tracking mandatory school entrance ages, full-day requirements, and state cutoff dates.
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Early Childhood Longitudinal Study
Federal research program investigating child development, school readiness, and kindergarten academic trajectories.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - School Readiness Guidance
Pediatric developmental benchmarks for emotional, physical, and cognitive preparation for primary school.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Professional early childhood education standards for developmentally appropriate kindergarten transitions.
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