What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Delaware · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Delaware?

Children must turn 5 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 Delaware rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by August 31
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisDel. Code tit. 14, § 2702
School required fromAge 5 to age 16
Kindergarten mandatory?Yes — attendance is required

How Delaware 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.

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

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

Starting early in Delaware

A parent may request delayed enrollment; a readiness evaluation is available, as is a half-day option.

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 Delaware kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before August 31.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Delaware?
Delaware sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Del. Code tit. 14, § 2702.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Delaware?
A parent may request delayed enrollment; a readiness evaluation is available, as is a half-day option.
At what age is school required in Delaware?
In Delaware, school attendance is compulsory from age 5 to age 16. Delaware is one of the states that require kindergarten attendance itself — not just that it be offered.

Grade by age in Delaware — 2026–27

Grade by age in Delaware — 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: Del. Code tit. 14, § 2702. 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).
Delaware Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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