State guide · Massachusetts · 2025–26
What grade is my kid in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts leaves the kindergarten cutoff to local school districts — there's no single statewide answer.
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Frequently asked
What's the Massachusetts kindergarten cutoff?
Massachusetts doesn't set a single statewide cutoff. The state guideline is varies, but individual school districts make the final call.
Can a child start kindergarten in Massachusetts a year early?
Most districts allow early entry only by formal assessment. Talk to your local school office before the spring enrollment window.
What is "redshirting" and is it common in Massachusetts?
Redshirting is intentionally delaying kindergarten by a year, usually for summer-birthday boys. It's most common in states with summer or early-fall cutoffs.
Grade by age in Massachusetts — 2025–26
| 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
Massachusetts DESE — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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