What Grade Is My Kid 2025–26

Per-age guide · 17 years old · 2025–26

What grade is a 17-year-old in?

A typical 17-year-old in the United States is in 12th grade for the 2025–26 school year — if they were born before their state's kindergarten cutoff. If they were born after, they're typically one grade behind: 11th grade.

Quick answer

The cohort split, visualized

The cohort split

How a single year of birthdays becomes two grades.

Every state draws a line on the calendar. Children born before the September 1 cutoff start school a year ahead of children born after.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
September 1 cutoff
Born before cutoff12th gradeStarted K on schedule. Now age 17.
Born after cutoff11th gradeStarted K a year later. Same age, one grade behind.

Calculate for your child

↓ Tap Calculate to see the grade
Most US states use a September 1 cutoff. Year-stamped for the 2025–26 school year.

17-year-olds by state — 2025–26

The same 17-year-old lands in different grades depending on which state they live in. Sortable.

Grade for a 17-year-old by state — 2025–26
StateCutoffTypical gradeNotes
AlabamaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
AlaskaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
ArizonaAugust 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 on or before August 31.
ArkansasAugust 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
CaliforniaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Coloradovaries12th gradeCutoff is set by individual school districts. Most use August or September.
ConnecticutJanuary 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by January 1 of the school year (Jan 1 falls mid-year).
DelawareAugust 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
District of ColumbiaSeptember 3012th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
FloridaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
GeorgiaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
HawaiiJuly 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by July 31.
IdahoSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
IllinoisSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
IndianaAugust 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
IowaSeptember 1512th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 15.
KansasAugust 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
KentuckyAugust 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1 (some districts use earlier dates).
LouisianaSeptember 3012th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
MaineOctober 1512th gradeChildren must turn 5 by October 15.
MarylandSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Massachusettsvaries12th gradeCutoff is set by individual school districts (LEA decision).
MichiganSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MinnesotaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MississippiSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MissouriAugust 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
MontanaSeptember 1012th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 10.
NebraskaSeptember 3012th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
NevadaSeptember 3012th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
New Hampshirevaries12th gradeNew Hampshire defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts.
New Jerseyvaries12th gradeNew Jersey defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts (most use October 1).
New MexicoSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
New YorkDecember 112th gradeDecember 1 statewide minimum; districts may set earlier dates.
North CarolinaAugust 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
North DakotaJuly 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by July 31.
OhioAugust 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
OklahomaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
OregonSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Pennsylvaniavaries12th gradePennsylvania defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts (most use September 1).
Rhode IslandSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
South CarolinaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
South DakotaSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
TennesseeAugust 1512th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 15.
TexasSeptember 112th gradeChildren must be 5 on or before September 1.
UtahSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Vermontvaries12th gradeVermont defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts.
VirginiaSeptember 3012th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
WashingtonAugust 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
West VirginiaAugust 3112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
WisconsinSeptember 112th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
WyomingSeptember 1512th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 15.

Frequently asked

Can a 17-year-old skip a grade?
Grade-skipping is possible but rare; most US districts require formal academic assessment plus a social-emotional review. Talk to the school counselor before assuming.
What if my 17-year-old started kindergarten late?
If they were redshirted (held back a year before K), they'll be one grade behind their birth-year cohort. That's the second row of the answer above.
Is my 17-year-old considered "redshirted"?
Only if you intentionally delayed kindergarten. Children born after the cutoff who start K on schedule for their birthday aren't redshirted — they're on time for their state.

Sources

Education Commission of the States — Kindergarten Entrance Ages.
Individual state Departments of Education (linked from each state page).