kindergartencutoffs.Check your state

THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE

Little birthdays.
Big beginnings.

When can your child start kindergarten?
Find their starting year, one state at a time.

Is my child old enough?

A birthday. A state. A clearer next step.

Birthday stays in your browser. No signup. Always confirm with your district.

Official sourcesDated fact checksNo birthday data collected

FIFTY STATES. DIFFERENT DATES.

Find your state’s starting line.

Choose a state for its age rules,
exceptions and official sources.

August or earlierSeptemberOctober–DecemberDistrict dateComing soon

Compare state rules

Select a column heading to sort. Unverified rules are left blank.

50 states & Washington, DC

Kindergarten rules for all 50 states and Washington, DC
AlabamaGuide coming soon
AlaskaGuide coming soon
Arizona August 31
ArkansasGuide coming soon
California September 1statewide
Colorado District sets date
Connecticut September 1
Delaware August 31
District of Columbia September 30
Florida September 1
Georgia September 1
Hawaii July 31
Idaho September 1
Illinois September 1
Indiana August 1
Iowa September 15
Kansas August 31
Kentucky August 1
Louisiana September 30
Maine October 15
MarylandGuide coming soon
MassachusettsGuide coming soon
Michigan September 1
Minnesota September 1
MississippiGuide coming soon
Missouri July 31
Montana September 10
Nebraska July 31
Nevada August 1
New HampshireGuide coming soon
New Jersey District sets date
New Mexico August 31
New YorkGuide coming soon
North Carolina August 31
North Dakota July 31
Ohio District sets date
OklahomaGuide coming soon
Oregon District sets date
PennsylvaniaGuide coming soon
Rhode Island September 1
South Carolina September 1
South Dakota September 1
TennesseeGuide coming soon
TexasGuide coming soon
Utah September 1
Vermont District sets date
Virginia September 30
Washington August 31
West Virginia June 30
Wisconsin September 1
Wyoming August 1

THE DATE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

A birthday is only half the story.

September 1 is the most common kindergarten cutoff, but dates range from June 30 (West Virginia) to October 15 (Maine), and several states leave the date to local districts. Each state page links the official source we checked.

National summary updated

Explore the state guides →

A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS

Before the first day.

How does the kindergarten age checker work?

Choose a birthday and a verified state. The checker compares the fifth birthday with the published cutoff and shows the first eligible fall under that rule. District exceptions and future rule changes may affect enrollment.

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

Read the early-entry section in your state guide and confirm the policy with your district. The checker shows the published early-entry note for birthdays within 60 days after the cutoff.

Does an eligible age guarantee a school place?

The checker estimates age eligibility only. Confirm enrollment requirements, program availability and the school calendar with your district.

Is my child’s birthday saved?

No. The calculation happens in your browser. This site does not send or store the birthday you enter.

CLEAR RULES. TRACEABLE SOURCES.

Small details deserve a careful check.

State guides link to their sources and show when they were last verified, so you can check the rule behind the answer.

How this guide works →

Find your state