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Kindergarten Start Date Calculator

Most US states require children to turn 5 by a cutoff date, often September 1, to start kindergarten that fall. Choose your state's cutoff to see the start year.

Earliest kindergarten year

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Age on the cutoff date
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Position in class
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Tips for using the kindergarten start calculator

  • Children born within a month or two of the cutoff are where "redshirting" (waiting a year) decisions usually arise.
  • Ask about transitional kindergarten (TK) programs; California offers TK for 4-year-olds.
  • Register early; many districts open enrolment in winter for the following fall.

How the kindergarten start calculator works

Kindergarten eligibility in the US depends on whether a child reaches age 5 by a state or district cutoff date. If the fifth birthday falls on or before the cutoff, the child can start that fall; otherwise they start the following year.

If birthday + 5 years ≤ cutoff date in that year → start that fall
Otherwise → start the next fall

According to the Education Commission of the States, most states use a date between August 1 and September 15, and September 1 is the most common. A few states let districts set the date or allow early entry after an assessment. Check your district's enrolment page, because rules can change.

Worked example

A child born on October 15, 2021, turns 5 on October 15, 2026, after a September 1 cutoff. They become eligible for kindergarten in fall 2027 and will be 5 years 10 months old on the cutoff date, among the oldest in the class. Under a December 1 cutoff the same child could start in fall 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common kindergarten cutoff date?

September 1 is the most common in the US, with many states between August 1 and September 15.

Is kindergarten required?

Compulsory school age varies by state; in some states kindergarten is optional and first grade is required.

Can my child start early?

Some states and districts allow early entry with testing or a review; others do not allow it at all.

Should I hold my child back a year?

It is a personal decision. Research on academic redshirting finds small early advantages that tend to fade by later grades.

Updated October 2026. Results are estimates for education, not financial or medical advice. All math runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.

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