A kindergarten cutoff date is the date by which a child must reach the required age, almost always 5, to enroll in kindergarten in the fall of that school year.
How it works
A rule like “age 5 on or before September 1” means the child’s fifth birthday must fall on or before September 1 of the year they start.
Example. A state uses September 1, and you’re planning for fall 2027.
- A child born August 30, 2022 turns 5 on August 30, 2027: eligible for fall 2027.
- A child born September 3, 2022 turns 5 two days after the cutoff: starts in fall 2028.
So the September 3 child will be one of the oldest in their class, and the August 30 child one of the youngest. Our kindergarten cutoff dates page lists every state and the exact birth-date windows for upcoming years.
Why the wording matters
“On or before September 1” includes a September 1 birthday; “before September 1” does not. One word can move a child by a full school year.
How much states differ
According to the Education Commission of the States’ 2026 comparison of K-3 policies, California and Texas use “age 5 on or prior to September 1,” Hawaii uses July 31, and Vermont uses “age 5 before January 1.” Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania leave the date to local districts. Look up your own state on our state pages, for example California.
Grade placement later on
Cutoff dates ripple forward: they decide which grade a child is in at every age. If you’re moving states or comparing ages, the what grade am I in tool converts a birth date to a grade level.