What Grade Is My Kid 2025–26

Per-age guide · 6 years old · 2025–26

What grade is a 6-year-old in?

A typical 6-year-old in the United States is in 1st 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: Kindergarten.

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 cutoff1st gradeStarted K on schedule. Now age 6.
Born after cutoffKindergartenStarted 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.

6-year-olds by state — 2025–26

The same 6-year-old lands in different grades depending on which state they live in. Sortable.

Grade for a 6-year-old by state — 2025–26
StateCutoffTypical gradeNotes
AlabamaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
AlaskaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
ArizonaAugust 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 on or before August 31.
ArkansasAugust 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
CaliforniaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Coloradovaries1st gradeCutoff is set by individual school districts. Most use August or September.
ConnecticutJanuary 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by January 1 of the school year (Jan 1 falls mid-year).
DelawareAugust 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
District of ColumbiaSeptember 301st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
FloridaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
GeorgiaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
HawaiiJuly 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by July 31.
IdahoSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
IllinoisSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
IndianaAugust 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
IowaSeptember 151st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 15.
KansasAugust 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
KentuckyAugust 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1 (some districts use earlier dates).
LouisianaSeptember 301st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
MaineOctober 151st gradeChildren must turn 5 by October 15.
MarylandSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Massachusettsvaries1st gradeCutoff is set by individual school districts (LEA decision).
MichiganSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MinnesotaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MississippiSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MissouriAugust 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
MontanaSeptember 101st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 10.
NebraskaSeptember 301st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
NevadaSeptember 301st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
New Hampshirevaries1st gradeNew Hampshire defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts.
New Jerseyvaries1st gradeNew Jersey defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts (most use October 1).
New MexicoSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
New YorkDecember 11st gradeDecember 1 statewide minimum; districts may set earlier dates.
North CarolinaAugust 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
North DakotaJuly 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by July 31.
OhioAugust 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
OklahomaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
OregonSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Pennsylvaniavaries1st gradePennsylvania defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts (most use September 1).
Rhode IslandSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
South CarolinaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
South DakotaSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
TennesseeAugust 151st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 15.
TexasSeptember 11st gradeChildren must be 5 on or before September 1.
UtahSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Vermontvaries1st gradeVermont defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts.
VirginiaSeptember 301st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
WashingtonAugust 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
West VirginiaAugust 311st gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
WisconsinSeptember 11st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
WyomingSeptember 151st gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 15.

Frequently asked

Can a 6-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 6-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 6-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).