School EntryCALCULATOR
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United States kindergarten and school timeline

Choose your state, then check whether the age rule is statewide or set by your district. Local exceptions are shown before you calculate.

All 50 states and Washington DC are listed. Standard entry rules and local exceptions were checked on October 22, 2026. Where districts set dates, choose a listed district; coverage does not yet include every district. Unlisted districts do not receive an assumed cutoff.

Choose your location or school system

Alabama →5 by September 1 · standard routeAlaska →4 reviewed district optionsArizona →5 by August 31 · standard routeArkansas →5 by August 1 · standard routeCalifornia →5 by September 1 · standard routeColorado →5 reviewed district optionsConnecticut →5 by September 1 · standard routeDelaware →5 by August 31 · standard routeFlorida →5 by September 1 · standard routeGeorgia →5 by September 1 · standard routeHawaii →5 by July 31 · standard routeIdaho →5 by September 1 · standard routeIllinois →5 by September 1 · standard routeIndiana →5 by August 1 · standard routeIowa →5 by September 15 · standard routeKansas →5 by August 31 · standard routeKentucky →5 by August 1 · standard routeLouisiana →5 by September 30 · standard routeMaine →5 by October 15 · standard routeMaryland →5 by September 1 · standard routeMassachusetts →4 reviewed district optionsMichigan →5 by September 1 · standard routeMinnesota →5 by September 1 · standard routeMississippi →5 by September 1 · standard routeMissouri →5 by July 31 · standard routeMontana →5 by September 10 · standard routeNebraska →5 by July 31 · standard routeNevada →5 by August 1 · standard routeNew Hampshire →2 reviewed district optionsNew Jersey →5 by October 1 · standard routeNew Mexico →5 by September 1 · standard routeNew York →3 reviewed district optionsNorth Carolina →5 by August 31 · standard routeNorth Dakota →5 by July 31 · standard routeOhio →District calendar requiredOklahoma →5 by September 1 · standard routeOregon →2 reviewed district optionsPennsylvania →2 reviewed district optionsRhode Island →5 by September 1 · standard routeSouth Carolina →5 by September 1 · standard routeSouth Dakota →5 by September 1 · standard routeTennessee →5 by August 15 · standard routeTexas →5 by September 1 · standard routeUtah →5 by September 1 · standard routeVermont →1 reviewed district optionsVirginia →5 by September 30 · standard routeWashington →5 by August 31 · standard routeWest Virginia →5 by June 30 · standard routeWisconsin →5 by September 1 · standard routeWyoming →5 by August 1 · standard routeWashington DC →5 by September 30 · standard route

How school entry works

Your child’s birthday helps determine which school year they can start. Use the state or district guidance on this page; applying early does not change the birthday cutoff.

The table follows Kindergarten through Grade 12, moving up one grade each year. The grades included in elementary, middle and high school vary by district.

Before you enrol

Check which school serves your address, when applications open and which documents you need. If you are applying for an early start, ask about the assessment and its deadline.

What this estimate does not decide

Being old enough to start does not guarantee a place at your preferred school. A later start, a transfer or repeating a grade can change the timeline. Your child must also meet their school’s graduation requirements.

Questions parents ask

What if my child’s birthday is after the cutoff?

They will usually start the following school year. Some states or districts allow an earlier start after an application or assessment. Read the guidance on this page and ask your school before making plans.

Does this calculate my child’s graduation year?

It estimates the year your child would finish Grade 12 if they move up one grade each year. Graduation also depends on course credits and other school requirements.

Is the birthday cutoff the enrollment deadline?

No. The birthday cutoff decides age eligibility. Your school’s enrollment or school-choice deadline tells you when to apply, which may be months before school starts.

Official sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22 · 2026-10-22.2