What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Virginia · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Virginia?

Children must turn 5 on or before September 30.

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

The Virginia rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by September 30
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisVa. Code § 22.1-199
School required fromAge 5 to age 18
Kindergarten mandatory?Yes — attendance is required

How Virginia compares

1 state and DC use the same September 30 cutoff. 39 have an earlier cutoff and 3 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, Virginia among them. That is as early as anywhere in the country requires it.

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

Starting early in Virginia

A child with a birthday between October 1 and December 31 may enroll after an evaluation demonstrating readiness.

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 Virginia kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 30.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Virginia?
Virginia sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Va. Code § 22.1-199.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Virginia?
A child with a birthday between October 1 and December 31 may enroll after an evaluation demonstrating readiness.
At what age is school required in Virginia?
In Virginia, school attendance is compulsory from age 5 to age 18. Virginia is one of the states that require kindergarten attendance itself — not just that it be offered.

Grade by age in Virginia — 2026–27

Grade by age in Virginia — 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: Va. Code § 22.1-199. 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).
Virginia Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
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