Early Learning: Kindergarten Online Database
State-by-State Policies and Requirements.
Kindergarten entrance age
In half of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, students must turn age 5 by the end of September to attend kindergarten.
Nineteen states requires students to turn age 5 on or before Sept. 1.
Related Links
Kindergarten attendance requirement
Fifteen states plus D.C. require children to attend kindergarten at age five or require kindergarten attendance prior to enrolling in first grade.
Thirty-five states do not require kindergarten attendance.
Compulsory school age
Most states require children to attend school by age 6 (26 states) or age 7 (14 states).
In eight states – Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia – plus D.C., the compulsory school age is 5.
Pennsylvania and Washington require children to attend school at age 8.
