What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Arizona · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Arizona?

Children must turn 5 before September 1 — in practice, on or before August 31.

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

The Arizona rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by August 31
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisAriz. Rev. Stat. § 15-821
School required fromAge 6 to age 16
Kindergarten mandatory?No — kindergarten is optional

How Arizona compares

4 states use the same August 31 cutoff. 11 have an earlier cutoff and 29 have a later one, so a child born the same day can land a full grade apart depending on where they live.

28 states require school attendance to begin at age 6, Arizona among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.

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

Starting early in Arizona

A governing board may admit a child who has not reached the required age when it finds admission in the child’s best interest.

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 Arizona kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 before September 1 — in practice, on or before August 31.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Arizona?
Arizona sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-821.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Arizona?
A governing board may admit a child who has not reached the required age when it finds admission in the child’s best interest.
At what age is school required in Arizona?
In Arizona, school attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 16. Arizona does not require kindergarten attendance; compulsory schooling starts at age 6.

Grade by age in Arizona — 2026–27

Grade by age in Arizona — 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: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-821. 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).
Arizona Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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