Children must turn 5 on or before October 15 — the latest fixed cutoff of any state.
Calculate for your child
The Maine rule in detail
Kindergarten cutoff
Turn 5 by October 15
Who sets it
Set statewide
Legal basis
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5201
School required from
Age 6 to age 17
Kindergarten mandatory?
No — kindergarten is optional
How Maine compares
Maine is the only place in the country using an October 15 kindergarten cutoff. 43 have an earlier cutoff and 1 has 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, Maine among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Like most of the country, Maine does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.
Starting early in Maine
A student enrolled in public kindergarten in another state may enroll upon becoming a Maine resident.
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 Maine kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before October 15 — the latest fixed cutoff of any state.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Maine?
Maine sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5201.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Maine?
A student enrolled in public kindergarten in another state may enroll upon becoming a Maine resident.
At what age is school required in Maine?
In Maine, school attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 17. Maine does not require kindergarten attendance; compulsory schooling starts at age 6.
Is kindergarten mandatory in Maine?
No — kindergarten is optional in Maine. School attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 17.
Legal basis: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5201. 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).
Maine Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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