State guide · Rhode Island · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Rhode Island?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The Rhode Island rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | 16 R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-27 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 18 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | Yes — attendance is required |
How Rhode Island compares
20 states use the same September 1 cutoff. 16 have an earlier cutoff and 8 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, Rhode Island among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Rhode Island is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.
Starting early in Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in 16 R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-27.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island law does not identify a general early-entrance waiver.
At what age is school required in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, school attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 18. Rhode Island is one of the states that require kindergarten attendance itself — not just that it be offered.
Grade by age in Rhode Island — 2026–27
| 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
Legal basis: 16 R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-27. 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).
RI Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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