California Kindergarten Eligibility Calculator
Enter your child’s birth date to check whether they meet California’s kindergarten age requirement for a selected school year.
Check Kindergarten Eligibility
Enter your child’s birth date and choose a California school year to see whether your child meets the statewide kindergarten age requirement.
🎂 Check the Age Requirement
See whether your child turns five on or before California’s September 1 kindergarten cutoff.
📅 Select a School Year
Check eligibility for the current year or plan ahead for a future school year.
🏫 Understand the Result
See whether your child is kindergarten-eligible, not yet eligible, or already first-grade age.
What This Calculator Shows
✅ Selected California school year
✅ Child’s age on September 1
✅ California kindergarten cutoff
✅ Kindergarten eligibility result
✅ Estimated first-grade year
✅ Number of days before or after the cutoff
✅ Suggested next step for parents
California Kindergarten Eligibility
A child is generally age-eligible for California kindergarten if the child turns five on or before September 1 of the school year. Kindergarten is not compulsory in California, but school attendance becomes compulsory at age six.
First-Grade Eligibility
California law generally requires a child to be six on or before September 1 to be legally eligible for first grade. For a six-year-old child, the final kindergarten-versus-first-grade placement can be a local decision made with parent input
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California kindergarten cutoff?
A child is generally age-eligible if they turn five on or before September 1 of the selected school year.
Is kindergarten required in California?
Kindergarten itself is not compulsory, but children are generally subject to compulsory education beginning at age six.
What if my child turns five after September 1?
The child does not meet the standard statewide kindergarten age cutoff for that school year. They may qualify for TK if they turn four on or before September 1.
Can my child start kindergarten early?
Some districts may have local early-admission or placement policies. Contact the district directly before relying on early entry.
Does the calculator guarantee placement?
No. It checks the statewide age rule only. The district controls enrollment procedures and final placement.
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