What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Alaska · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Alaska?

Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.

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Most US states use a September 1 cutoff. Year-stamped for the 2026–27 school year.

The Alaska rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by September 1
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisAlaska Stat. § 14.03.080
School required fromAge 7 to age 16
Kindergarten mandatory?No — kindergarten is optional

How Alaska compares

20 states use the same September 1 cutoff. 16 have an earlier cutoff and 8 have a later one, so a child born the same day can land a full grade apart depending on where they live.

10 states require school attendance to begin at age 7, Alaska among them. 39 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.

Like most of the country, Alaska does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.

Starting early in Alaska

A child of at least 4 may be admitted at the district’s discretion if they meet the district’s mental, physical and emotional standards.

Early entrance is decided locally even where state law allows it, so ask your district office what evidence they expect and when the window closes.

Frequently asked

What's the Alaska kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Alaska?
Alaska sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Alaska Stat. § 14.03.080.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Alaska?
A child of at least 4 may be admitted at the district’s discretion if they meet the district’s mental, physical and emotional standards.
At what age is school required in Alaska?
In Alaska, school attendance is compulsory from age 7 to age 16. Alaska does not require kindergarten attendance; compulsory schooling starts at age 7.

Grade by age in Alaska — 2026–27

Grade by age in Alaska — 2026–27
AgeTypical gradeNotes
4Not in school yetStarts K in fall of the following school year.
5Kindergarten
61st grade
72nd grade
83rd grade
94th grade
105th grade
116th grade
127th grade
138th grade
149th grade
1510th grade
1611th grade
1712th grade

Source

Legal basis: Alaska Stat. § 14.03.080. Cutoff, early-entrance and compulsory-age details cross-checked against the Education Commission of the States 50-State Comparisons (K-3 policies and compulsory school age).
Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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