State guide · Colorado · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Colorado?
Colorado sets no statewide kindergarten cutoff — each district adopts its own. Most use a date in August or September.
Calculate for your child
The Colorado rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Varies by district |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set by each school district |
| Legal basis | 1 Colo. Code Regs. § 22-54-103 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 17 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | No — kindergarten is optional |
How Colorado compares
Colorado is one of 6 states that leave the kindergarten entrance date to local districts rather than fixing one date statewide.
28 states require school attendance to begin at age 6, Colorado among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Like most of the country, Colorado does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.
Starting early in Colorado
Set by the district, since the entrance age itself is a local decision.
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 Colorado kindergarten cutoff?
Colorado sets no statewide kindergarten cutoff — each district adopts its own. Most use a date in August or September.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Colorado?
Colorado leaves the entrance date to local school districts, so it can differ between two neighbouring towns. The rule lives in 1 Colo. Code Regs. § 22-54-103.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Colorado?
Set by the district, since the entrance age itself is a local decision.
At what age is school required in Colorado?
In Colorado, school attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 17. Colorado does not require kindergarten attendance; compulsory schooling starts at age 6.
Grade by age in Colorado — 2026–27
| Age | Typical grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Not in school yet | Starts K in fall of the following school year. |
| 5 | Kindergarten | |
| 6 | 1st grade | |
| 7 | 2nd grade | |
| 8 | 3rd grade | |
| 9 | 4th grade | |
| 10 | 5th grade | |
| 11 | 6th grade | |
| 12 | 7th grade | |
| 13 | 8th grade | |
| 14 | 9th grade | |
| 15 | 10th grade | |
| 16 | 11th grade | |
| 17 | 12th grade |
Source
Legal basis: 1 Colo. Code Regs. § 22-54-103. 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).
Colorado Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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