State guide · Connecticut · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Connecticut?

Connecticut moved its cutoff from January 1 to September 1 starting in 2024–25 — one of the largest cutoff changes any state has made.

Recently changed. This cutoff took effect for the 2024–25 school year. If you are going from an older chart or a sibling's experience, check the date again — Connecticut is not where it used to be.

Calculate for your child

The Connecticut rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoff	Turn 5 by September 1 (since 2024–25)
Who sets it	Set statewide
Legal basis	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-15c, as amended by P.A. 23-208
School required from	Age 5 to age 18
Kindergarten mandatory?	Yes — attendance is required

How Connecticut 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.

11 states and DC require school attendance to begin at age 5, Connecticut among them. That is as early as anywhere in the country requires it.

Connecticut is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.

Starting early in Connecticut

A child who misses the cutoff may still be admitted on written request from the parent plus a school assessment finding kindergarten developmentally appropriate.

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 Connecticut kindergarten cutoff?

Connecticut moved its cutoff from January 1 to September 1 starting in 2024–25 — one of the largest cutoff changes any state has made.

Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Connecticut?

Connecticut sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-15c, as amended by P.A. 23-208.

Can a child start kindergarten early in Connecticut?

A child who misses the cutoff may still be admitted on written request from the parent plus a school assessment finding kindergarten developmentally appropriate.

At what age is school required in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, school attendance is compulsory from age 5 to age 18. Connecticut is one of the states that require kindergarten attendance itself — not just that it be offered.

Grade by age in Connecticut — 2026–27

Grade by age in Connecticut — 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: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-15c, as amended by P.A. 23-208. 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).

Connecticut State Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.

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