When Does Kindergarten Start?
Find your child's kindergarten start date by state and district — including the birthday cutoff, first day of school, and breaks.
Check your child's start date
About this calculator
Each state picks its own birthday cutoff. Then each district decides its own first day of school. So we put both in one place. Choose your state, pick your district, and add your child's birth date.
We built it from official state and district calendars. If anything looks off, tell us and we'll check it.
🚩 Spotted a wrong date? Report a problem
Cutoff rules shown are for the 2026–27 school year. We are checking each state's cutoff against its education department. Until a state is checked, the calculator marks its result "estimated." For fall 2027, the same rule is carried forward, because states and districts haven't published 2027–28 details yet. We keep an eye on rule changes, and when a state or district updates its rules, we update this page as soon as we can. Check your district's official calendar for the exact date.
What is the cutoff date for kindergarten?
The kindergarten cutoff date is the birthday your child has to reach to start kindergarten in the fall. If they turn 5 on or before that date, they're in. If they turn 5 a day later, they usually wait a full year. There's no one date for the whole country, because each state decides, and in a few places the district decides. September 1 is the most common cutoff, but dates run from as early as July 31 (Hawaii and Nebraska) to as late as December 31 (New York City).
What is the birth date cutoff for kindergarten?
It's the same thing, just asked a different way. The birth date cutoff is the latest birthday that still counts for this school year. In a September 1 state, a child born August 31 starts this fall and a child born September 2 starts the next fall. Most places count "on or before," so a child born right on the cutoff day is usually fine. Still, call your district if your child's birthday is close, because a few read the rule differently.
What is the cutoff date to start kindergarten?
The only cutoff that matters for your child is the one for your state, and sometimes your district. Look up the date, then check whether your child turns 5 on or before it. Don't go by what a neighbor in another state told you, because the dates are all over the place. If you moved recently, check again, because the rule at your old address may not apply at the new one.
Kindergarten cutoff date in New York
Most New York districts say a child must turn 5 on or before December 1, and districts don't have to enroll children who miss it. New York City is different. The city uses December 31, so a child who turns 5 any time during the calendar year can start that fall. That's one of the latest cutoffs in the country, and it means some kids start kindergarten at 4 years and 9 or 10 months. Because New York districts have their own policies, check yours before you plan.
Kindergarten cutoff date in Ohio
Ohio just changed this, so older articles are wrong. Districts used to pick either August 1 or September 30. Starting with the 2026–27 school year, a new law (HB 114) says the child must be 5 on or before the first official day of school in that district. That means the cutoff is a little different in every district. For example, in 2026–27 Columbus City Schools uses August 25, 2026, and Hilliard uses August 19, 2026. Some districts still offer early admission for children who just miss it, so ask your district.
Kindergarten cutoff date in Utah
Utah is one of the simpler ones. A child has to turn 5 before September 2 of the school year, so September 1 is the last birthday that counts. Kindergarten isn't required in Utah and the decision belongs to the parents, because compulsory school age starts at 6. Families who miss the date by a little sometimes ask about early entry, and that's up to the district.
Kindergarten cutoff date in Indiana
Indiana law says a child must be 5 on or before August 1 to enroll in public school kindergarten. That's one of the earliest cutoffs in the country, so a lot of Indiana parents get caught off guard when a summer birthday doesn't make it. Some districts let parents request a waiver for a child who turns 5 shortly after August 1, but it's the district's call and the rules differ, so ask early.
How the calculator works
You choose your state and district and enter your child's date of birth. We compare the birth date to your state's cutoff, or to your district's first day of school in states like Ohio, and then show your district's first day of school and breaks.
Here's an example. In a state with a September 1 cutoff, a child born August 20 turns 5 before the cutoff and starts kindergarten that fall. A child born September 5 turns 5 after the cutoff and usually starts the following fall. Always confirm close calls with your district.
Kindergarten cutoffs by state
The cutoff is the birthday a child must have to start kindergarten that fall. If your child was born after the cutoff, they start the following fall. Pennsylvania and New York set cutoffs largely by district. Ohio now uses each district's first day of school as the cutoff. The dates shown are common ones for the 2026–27 school year — check with your district.
| State | Typical cutoff | Districts we cover | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | August 31 | 6 districts | Official source ↗ |
| California | September 1 | 6 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Florida | September 1 | 6 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Georgia | September 1 | 6 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Illinois | September 1 | 4 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Maryland | September 1 | 3 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Massachusetts | September 1 | 2 districts | — |
| Michigan | September 1 | 4 districts | Official source ↗ |
| New Jersey | October 1 | 4 districts | Official source ↗ |
| New York | December 1 (set by district) | 6 districts | — |
| North Carolina | August 31 | 6 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Ohio | First day of school (set by district) | 3 districts | — |
| Pennsylvania | September 1 (set by district) | 4 districts | — |
| Tennessee | August 15 | 5 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Texas | September 1 | 4 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Virginia | September 30 | 3 districts | Official source ↗ |
| Washington | August 31 | 3 districts | Official source ↗ |
How we get our data
We don't generate these dates with an automated tool. A real person on our team reads each district's published calendar and enters the first day, last day, and breaks. When a district changes its calendar, we update the page and note the date.
We use the Education Commission of the States and each state's education department for the state cutoff rules, and we link to the official district source on every district page. If something looks wrong, use the report link on this page and we'll check it against the source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child's birthday is exactly on the cutoff date?
Most states count "on or before." A child born on September 1 can start that fall in California. A child born September 2 waits a year. Always confirm with your district, because a few interpret the rule differently.
Can my child start if they turn 5 in October?
In most states, no. If your state's cutoff is September 1 and your child turns 5 in October, they wait until the following fall. Some districts offer early entry testing — call your district's enrollment office to ask.
Is kindergarten mandatory?
It depends on the state. In many states, children don't have to attend until age 6 or 7, so kindergarten itself is optional. Some states require it. Your state education department's site will say, and most children go anyway.
Can I enroll my child early?
Sometimes. Some districts offer early entry testing for children who miss the cutoff. The rules, the test, and the deadline are local. Call your district's enrollment office before you assume.
Can I delay kindergarten if my child is eligible?
Most states allow it, but the rules vary. Some districts require a meeting, and a few don't allow it at all. Ask your district's enrollment office before you decide.
Why do districts in the same state start on different days?
Each district sets its own calendar. Two districts twenty minutes apart can start a week apart, or even take different breaks. That's why the calculator asks for your district, not just your state.
Is this the only first day I should check?
No. Some districts have staggered starts for kindergarten (a few days before the rest of the school). Check your district page for the exact date your child should show up.
What if my district changes the calendar mid-year?
It happens. Snow days, make-up days, and other changes can move things around. If you see a wrong date on our page, use the "Report a problem" link and we'll check the official source.
Does this page cover every state?
We cover the states in our district database. If your state isn't listed, use the state cutoff column to see the general rule, and check your district's site for the exact first day.