State guide · Wisconsin · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Wisconsin?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The Wisconsin rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | Wis. Stat. § 118.14 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 18 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | Yes — attendance is required |
How Wisconsin 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, Wisconsin among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Wisconsin is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.
Starting early in Wisconsin
A school board may set procedures, conditions and standards for early admission to kindergarten.
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 Wisconsin kindergarten cutoff?
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Wisconsin?
Can a child start kindergarten early in Wisconsin?
At what age is school required in Wisconsin?
Grade by age in Wisconsin — 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 |