US school grade by birthday
Find a child’s US grade for any school year from their birth date and your state’s kindergarten cutoff (Sept 1 in most states), plus the equivalent China grade (年级). Includes all 50 states + DC cutoff dates with sources.
California: a child must be 5 on or before Sep 1 to start kindergarten. Children who turn 5 after Sept 1 can attend TK (transitional kindergarten).
- US grade in 2026–27
- 1st grade
- China equivalent (same grade)
- Primary grade 1 (一年级)
- Under China’s Aug 31 rule
- Primary grade 1 (一年级)
- Kindergarten year
- 2025–26
- High school graduation
- June 2038
| School year | US grade | China (Aug 31 rule) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Pre-K / TK (age 4) | Kindergarten, middle class (中班) |
| 2025–26 | Kindergarten | Kindergarten, senior class (大班) |
| 2026–27 | 1st grade | Primary grade 1 (一年级) |
| 2027–28 | 2nd grade | Primary grade 2 (二年级) |
| 2028–29 | 3rd grade | Primary grade 3 (三年级) |
| 2029–30 | 4th grade | Primary grade 4 (四年级) |
| 2030–31 | 5th grade | Primary grade 5 (五年级) |
| 2031–32 | 6th grade | Primary grade 6 (六年级) |
| 2032–33 | 7th grade | Junior high year 1 (初一) |
| 2033–34 | 8th grade | Junior high year 2 (初二) |
| 2034–35 | 9th grade | Junior high year 3 (初三) |
| 2035–36 | 10th grade | Senior high year 1 (高一) |
| 2036–37 | 11th grade | Senior high year 2 (高二) |
| 2037–38 | 12th grade | Senior high year 3 (高三) |
Kindergarten cutoff dates by state
A child must turn 5 on or before this date to start kindergarten that fall. Checked 2026-10-31.
| State | 5 on or before | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Alaska | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Arizona | Aug 31 | Law says “before Sept 1”. Districts may admit children who turn 5 by Jan 1. | State |
| Arkansas | Aug 1 | ECS | |
| California | Sep 1 | Children who turn 5 after Sept 1 can attend TK (transitional kindergarten). | ECS |
| Colorado | District decides usually Oct 1 | Oct 1 is most common (state funding counts children 5 by Oct 1), some districts use Aug 1 or Aug 15. | State |
| Connecticut | Sep 1 | Was Jan 1 until 2023-24; Sept 1 since 2024-25. | State |
| Delaware | Aug 31 | State | |
| District of Columbia | Sep 30 | State | |
| Florida | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Georgia | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Hawaii | Jul 31 | State | |
| Idaho | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Illinois | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Indiana | Aug 1 | Districts may grant early-entry waivers. | State |
| Iowa | Sep 15 | State | |
| Kansas | Aug 31 | ECS | |
| Kentucky | Aug 1 | Districts must offer an early-entry evaluation. | State |
| Louisiana | Sep 30 | State | |
| Maine | Oct 15 | State | |
| Maryland | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Massachusetts | District decides usually Sep 1 | Most use Sept 1 (Boston: 5 by Sept 1), some Oct 1. | ECS |
| Michigan | Sep 1 | Parents may enroll a child who turns 5 by Dec 1 by notifying the district in writing. | State |
| Minnesota | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Mississippi | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Missouri | Jul 31 | Law says “before Aug 1”. St. Louis and Kansas City districts may set a later date. | State |
| Montana | Sep 10 | State | |
| Nebraska | Jul 31 | State | |
| Nevada | Aug 1 | Aug 1 since 2023-24 (AB 65); it used to be Sept 30. | State |
| New Hampshire | District decides usually Sep 30 | No state date; districts use Sept 1 or Sept 30 (Manchester: Sept 30). | State |
| New Jersey | Oct 1 | Children who are 5 by Oct 1 have a right to enroll; districts may admit younger children. | State |
| New Mexico | Sep 1 | Law says 5 “prior to Sept 1”; if your child was born on Sept 1, check with the district. | ECS |
| New York | District decides usually Dec 1 | Most use Dec 1. New York City uses Dec 31 (children born in the calendar year). | State |
| North Carolina | Aug 31 | State | |
| North Dakota | Jul 31 | Law says “before Aug 1”. | State |
| Ohio | District decides usually Aug 25 | From 2026-27, age 5 by the district’s first day of school (e.g. Columbus: Aug 25, 2026). Before that, districts chose Sept 30 or Aug 1. | State |
| Oklahoma | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Oregon | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Pennsylvania | District decides usually Sep 1 | Sept 1 is most common (Philadelphia: 5 by Sept 1). | State |
| Rhode Island | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| South Carolina | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| South Dakota | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Tennessee | Aug 15 | State | |
| Texas | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Utah | Sep 1 | Law says “before Sept 2”, so Sept 1 birthdays qualify. | State |
| Vermont | District decides usually Sep 1 | District may pick any date from Aug 31 to Jan 1 (state default Jan 1); most use Sept 1. | State |
| Virginia | Sep 30 | State | |
| Washington | Aug 31 | Some districts allow early entry for Sept/Oct birthdays. | State |
| West Virginia | Jun 30 | Law says “prior to July 1” (since 2019-20). | State |
| Wisconsin | Sep 1 | ECS | |
| Wyoming | Aug 1 | Aug 1 since 2021-22; up to Sept 15 with district approval. | State |
US grades and Chinese grades by age
| Age at cutoff | US | China |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Preschool (age 3) | Kindergarten, junior class (小班) |
| 4 | Pre-K / TK (age 4) | Kindergarten, middle class (中班) |
| 5 | Kindergarten | Kindergarten, senior class (大班) |
| 6 | 1st grade | Primary grade 1 (一年级) |
| 7 | 2nd grade | Primary grade 2 (二年级) |
| 8 | 3rd grade | Primary grade 3 (三年级) |
| 9 | 4th grade | Primary grade 4 (四年级) |
| 10 | 5th grade | Primary grade 5 (五年级) |
| 11 | 6th grade | Primary grade 6 (六年级) |
| 12 | 7th grade | Junior high year 1 (初一) |
| 13 | 8th grade | Junior high year 2 (初二) |
| 14 | 9th grade | Junior high year 3 (初三) |
| 15 | 10th grade | Senior high year 1 (高一) |
| 16 | 11th grade | Senior high year 2 (高二) |
| 17 | 12th grade | Senior high year 3 (高三) |
| 18 | Past high school (graduated) | Past high school |
China: 6-3-3 system (some places, such as Shanghai, use 5-4 with junior high starting at grade 6). US: elementary is usually K–5, middle school 6–8, high school 9–12, but districts vary.
How the calculation works
For a school year starting in the fall of year Y, the child’s age on the state cutoff date in year Y decides the grade: age 5 → kindergarten, 6 → 1st grade, and so on (grade = age − 5). A child born exactly on the cutoff date counts as 5. China uses age 6 by Aug 31 for primary grade 1 in most provinces under the Compulsory Education Law (年满六周岁); a few places are trying later dates.
FAQ
What grade is my child in based on birthday?
In most states a child starts kindergarten in the fall if they turn 5 on or before Sept 1, then moves up one grade a year: age 6 by the cutoff → 1st grade, age 10 → 5th grade, age 13 → 8th grade, age 17 → 12th grade. Check your state’s cutoff in the table — it ranges from June 30 (West Virginia) to Oct 15 (Maine).
How do US grades compare with Chinese grades?
Grade numbers line up from 1st grade: US 1st–6th ≈ 小学一至六年级, 7th–9th ≈ 初一至初三, 10th–12th ≈ 高一至高三. US kindergarten (K) ≈ 幼儿园大班, and Pre-K ≈ 中班. Because China’s cutoff is usually Aug 31 and most US states use Sept 1 or later, a child born in early September may be one grade ahead in the US compared with China.
Can my child start kindergarten early or late?
Some states let districts admit younger children after an assessment (for example Michigan up to Dec 1 with written notice, Arizona up to Jan 1 at district option). Parents can also wait a year (“redshirting”) in most states, as long as the child starts by the state’s compulsory school age. Ask your school district.
We are moving from China mid-year. Which grade will my child join?
US public schools generally place children by age using the state cutoff, not by the grade they finished in China, though schools may adjust after reviewing records and English level. Bring report cards (成绩单) and vaccination records translated into English.
Sources
- Education Commission of the States — 50-state comparison: K-3 policies (kindergarten entrance age), Sept 2026
- Compulsory Education Law of the PRC, Article 11 (年满六周岁)
Each state row links to its statute, state education department or ECS. Districts can differ (early entry, private schools, charter schools); confirm with your district before enrolling.