What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Nebraska · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Nebraska?

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

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Most US states use a September 1 cutoff. Year-stamped for the 2026–27 school year.

The Nebraska rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by July 31
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisNeb. Rev. Stat. § 79-214
School required fromAge 6 to age 18
Kindergarten mandatory?No — kindergarten is optional

How Nebraska 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.

28 states require school attendance to begin at age 6, Nebraska among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.

Like most of the country, Nebraska does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.

Starting early in Nebraska

A child turning 5 between August 1 and October 15 must be admitted on parent request with an affidavit that the child attended kindergarten elsewhere, the family is relocating, or the child can do the work (shown by an approved assessment).

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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-214.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Nebraska?
A child turning 5 between August 1 and October 15 must be admitted on parent request with an affidavit that the child attended kindergarten elsewhere, the family is relocating, or the child can do the work (shown by an approved assessment).
At what age is school required in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, school attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 18. Nebraska does not require kindergarten attendance; compulsory schooling starts at age 6.

Grade by age in Nebraska — 2026–27

Grade by age in Nebraska — 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: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-214. 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).
Nebraska Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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