What Grade Is My Kid 2025–26

Per-age guide · 9 years old · 2025–26

What grade is a 9-year-old in?

A typical 9-year-old in the United States is in 4th 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: 3rd 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 cutoff4th gradeStarted K on schedule. Now age 9.
Born after cutoff3rd 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.

9-year-olds by state — 2025–26

The same 9-year-old lands in different grades depending on which state they live in. Sortable.

Grade for a 9-year-old by state — 2025–26
StateCutoffTypical gradeNotes
AlabamaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
AlaskaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
ArizonaAugust 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 on or before August 31.
ArkansasAugust 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
CaliforniaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Coloradovaries4th gradeCutoff is set by individual school districts. Most use August or September.
ConnecticutJanuary 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by January 1 of the school year (Jan 1 falls mid-year).
DelawareAugust 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
District of ColumbiaSeptember 304th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
FloridaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
GeorgiaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
HawaiiJuly 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by July 31.
IdahoSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
IllinoisSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
IndianaAugust 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
IowaSeptember 154th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 15.
KansasAugust 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
KentuckyAugust 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1 (some districts use earlier dates).
LouisianaSeptember 304th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
MaineOctober 154th gradeChildren must turn 5 by October 15.
MarylandSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Massachusettsvaries4th gradeCutoff is set by individual school districts (LEA decision).
MichiganSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MinnesotaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MississippiSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
MissouriAugust 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
MontanaSeptember 104th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 10.
NebraskaSeptember 304th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
NevadaSeptember 304th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
New Hampshirevaries4th gradeNew Hampshire defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts.
New Jerseyvaries4th gradeNew Jersey defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts (most use October 1).
New MexicoSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
New YorkDecember 14th gradeDecember 1 statewide minimum; districts may set earlier dates.
North CarolinaAugust 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
North DakotaJuly 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by July 31.
OhioAugust 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 1.
OklahomaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
OregonSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Pennsylvaniavaries4th gradePennsylvania defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts (most use September 1).
Rhode IslandSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
South CarolinaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
South DakotaSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
TennesseeAugust 154th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 15.
TexasSeptember 14th gradeChildren must be 5 on or before September 1.
UtahSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
Vermontvaries4th gradeVermont defers kindergarten age requirements to local school districts.
VirginiaSeptember 304th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 30.
WashingtonAugust 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
West VirginiaAugust 314th gradeChildren must turn 5 by August 31.
WisconsinSeptember 14th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 1.
WyomingSeptember 154th gradeChildren must turn 5 by September 15.

Frequently asked

Can a 9-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 9-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 9-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).