What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Hawaii · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Hawaii?

Children must turn 5 on or before July 31 — one of the earliest cutoffs in the country.

Calculate for your child

↓ Tap Calculate to see the grade
Most US states use a September 1 cutoff. Year-stamped for the 2026–27 school year.

The Hawaii rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by July 31
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisHaw. Rev. Stat. § 302A-411
School required fromAge 5 to age 18
Kindergarten mandatory?Yes — attendance is required

How Hawaii compares

2 states use the same July 31 cutoff. 1 has an earlier cutoff and 41 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, Hawaii among them. That is as early as anywhere in the country requires it.

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

Starting early in Hawaii

Hawaii law does not identify a general early-entrance waiver.

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 Hawaii kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before July 31 — one of the earliest cutoffs in the country.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Hawaii?
Hawaii sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Haw. Rev. Stat. § 302A-411.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Hawaii?
Hawaii law does not identify a general early-entrance waiver.
At what age is school required in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, school attendance is compulsory from age 5 to age 18. Hawaii is one of the states that require kindergarten attendance itself — not just that it be offered.

Grade by age in Hawaii — 2026–27

Grade by age in Hawaii — 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: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 302A-411. 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).
Hawaii Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
Spot something off about Hawaii? Email [email protected] and we'll fix it.