Graduation Calculator by Birthday

Enter a birth date and state: this graduation calculator by birthday adds 13 to the first fall the child is 5 by the state's kindergarten cutoff.

  • Last verified Oct 19, 2026
  • Sources: each state's own law, rule, bill or education department for 46 of the 51 (DC included); the Education Commission of the States for the other 5
On this page

Birthday June 15, 2021, Florida cutoff → Class of 2039

Class of 2039

Turns 5 on June 15, 2026, on or before Florida's cutoff of September 1, 2026.

Kindergarten2026–27
12th grade2038–39
On-time birthdays in this classSep 2, 2020 – Sep 1, 2021
Cutoff: Sep 1

Sources: each state's own law, rule, bill or education department for 46 of the 51 (DC included); the Education Commission of the States for the other 5Last verified Oct 19, 2026

Birth date

On time = the first fall the cutoff allows. One repeated or skipped grade also moves the class by one year.

Your district's cutoff date (optional)

The child must be 5 on or before this date. Leave the month on “Use the state's date” unless your district sets its own. A January to March date counts as the January to March after school starts.

Show the math
How the result was worked out
Birth dateJune 15, 2021
5th birthdayJune 15, 2026
Cutoff (2026–27 kindergarten year)Florida: turns 5 on or before September 1
Kindergarten5th birthday is on or before the 2026–27 cutoff (September 1, 2026), so kindergarten starts in 2026–27
12th grade2038–39 (kindergarten + 12 school years)
GraduationSpring 2039: Class of 2039
Which birthdays land in nearby classes
On-time birthday ranges for the classes around this result, for the state and cutoff chosen
ClassBorn fromBorn throughKindergarten
Class of 2037 Sep 2, 2018Sep 1, 20192024–25
Class of 2038 Sep 2, 2019Sep 1, 20202025–26
Class of 2039 (this result)Sep 2, 2020Sep 1, 20212026–27
Class of 2040 Sep 2, 2021Sep 1, 20222027–28
Class of 2041 Sep 2, 2022Sep 1, 20232028–29

This is the typical path for a child who starts kindergarten in the first year the cutoff allows. Cutoffs change: Michigan's moved from December 1 to September 1 over 2013–14 to 2015–16. Where we have a dated record of a state's older rule, the calculator uses the rule in force in the kindergarten year; otherwise it uses today's cutoff and the result says so. For a child who started earlier, enter the date used then if you know it. It is a date calculation, not a placement decision: your school district decides when a child starts.

Graduation year at a glance

States with a September 1 cutoff
19 states
States with a cutoff before September 1
17 states
States that leave the date to districts
7 states
Earliest statewide cutoff
June 30 (West Virginia)
Latest statewide cutoff
January 1 (Vermont's default)

Sources: Education Commission of the States, West Virginia Legislature, Vermont General Assembly

Good to know

  • Check the exact words when a birthday lands on the cutoff. Arizona's law says a child must turn 5 before September 1, so an August 31 birthday starts that fall and a September 1 birthday waits a year. Florida's law says on or before September 1, so the September 1 child starts.
  • Michigan has a second date in its law (MCL 380.1147(3)). A child who lives in the district and turns 5 after the September 1 cutoff but by December 1 may start kindergarten that year if a parent tells the school in writing; the school may recommend waiting, and the parent decides. Check with your district. The “A year early” option shows the class year for a child who started that way.

Common questions

What age is kindergarten?

Kindergarten usually starts at 5: most states require a child to be 5 by a cutoff date, which is September 1 in 19 states, earlier in 17 and later in 8 (DC included), while 7 leave the date to districts. A child who turns 5 after the cutoff starts the next fall.

Sources: Education Commission of the States, West Virginia Legislature, Utah State Legislature, Vermont General Assembly, Colorado Department of Education, New York State Education Department, Alaska State Legislature

When will my child start kindergarten?

In the first fall your child is 5 on or before your state's cutoff date: a child born June 15, 2021, in Florida, where the cutoff is September 1, starts in fall 2026. A birthday after the cutoff means the next fall, and your school district makes the final placement.

Sources: Florida Legislature, Education Commission of the States

What class is a child born in 2021?

It depends on the state's cutoff date. In Florida, where a child must be 5 on or before September 1, a child born from January 1 to September 1, 2021, is in the Class of 2039, and one born later in 2021 is in the class after it. Hawaii's cutoff is July 31, so there a child born in August 2021 is already in that later class.

Sources: Florida Legislature, Hawaii State Legislature

Why do two kids born a month apart graduate a year apart?

Because the cutoff date falls between their birthdays. In Florida, a child born August 15, 2021, turns 5 before the September 1 cutoff, starts kindergarten in fall 2026 and is in the Class of 2039; a child born September 15, 2021, turns 5 after it, waits until the next fall and graduates a year later.

Source: Florida Legislature

What grade will my child be in?

Count school years from kindergarten: the fall of the school year you're asking about minus the fall your child starts kindergarten is the grade, so 12 years after kindergarten is 12th grade. A child born June 15, 2021, in Florida starts kindergarten in fall 2026 and is in 12th grade in 2038–39. See the what grade was I in calculator.

Source: Florida Legislature

What year will I graduate college?

A bachelor's degree usually takes at least 4 years of full-time study, so a student who starts college the fall after high school finishes no earlier than the spring of their high school class year plus 4 in a 4-year full-time program. This calculator gives the high school class year; part-time study or a gap year moves the college year later.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

More details

More facts, beyond the ones at a glance, and where each comes from
WhatValueSource
States and DC with a cutoff after September 18 (7 states and DC)Education Commission of the States
States in the cutoff table51 (50 states and DC)
Usual kindergarten entrance age5 years old by the cutoff
Full-time study a bachelor's degree usually takes (NCES definition)At least 4 years of full-time college study, usuallyNational Center for Education Statistics

Common values

Each row is a child born September 15, 2021, who turns 5 on September 15, 2026. Where that is after the state's cutoff, kindergarten waits a year and the class is a year later.

Common inputs and the result this calculator gives for each
State (kindergarten cutoff)Graduating classKindergarten starts
Hawaii (July 31)Class of 20402027–28
Indiana (August 1)Class of 20402027–28
North Carolina (August 31)Class of 20402027–28
Florida (September 1)Class of 20402027–28
Iowa (September 15)Class of 20392026–27
Virginia (September 30)Class of 20392026–27
Maine (October 15)Class of 20392026–27
New York (December 1, district pre-fill)Class of 20392026–27
Vermont (January 1, state default)Class of 20392026–27

Kindergarten cutoff date in each state and DC

A child starts kindergarten in the fall if they turn 5 on or before this date. 46 of the 51 rows, DC included, are checked against the state's own law, rules or education department page; each one is in the sources list. The 5 marked “ECS only” come from the Education Commission of the States (ECS) table (September 2026) and are not yet confirmed against the state's own law. Earlier dates are listed where the state's law records a change; a row with no “since” is today's rule, and this page has not recorded when it began.

Each state's date, who sets it, and any dated change (September 2026)
StateTurns 5 on or beforeSet by
AlabamaSeptember 1State law
AlaskaEach district sets it since 2023–24; September 1 through 2022–23Districts
ArizonaAugust 31State law
ArkansasAugust 1State law (ECS only)
CaliforniaSeptember 1 since 2014–15; October 1 in 2013–14; November 1 in 2012–13; December 2 through 2011–12State law
ColoradoEach district sets it (we start from October 1)Districts
ConnecticutSeptember 1 since 2024–25; January 1 (the January after school starts) through 2023–24State law
DelawareAugust 31 since 1996–97; September 30 in 1995–96; October 31 in 1994–95; November 30 in 1993–94; earlier not recordedState law
District of ColumbiaSeptember 30 since 2008–09; December 31 through 2007–08State law
FloridaSeptember 1State law
GeorgiaSeptember 1State law (ECS only)
HawaiiJuly 31 since 2014–15; earlier not recordedState law
IdahoSeptember 1State law
IllinoisSeptember 1 since 1990–91; earlier not recordedState law
IndianaAugust 1State law (ECS only)
IowaSeptember 15State law
KansasAugust 31 since 1995–96; September 1 in 1994–95; earlier not recordedState law
KentuckyAugust 1 since 2017–18; October 1 through 2016–17State law
LouisianaSeptember 30State law
MaineOctober 15State law
MarylandSeptember 1 since 2006–07; September 30 in 2005–06; October 31 in 2004–05; November 30 in 2003–04; earlier not recordedState law
MassachusettsEach district sets itDistricts
MichiganSeptember 1 since 2015–16; October 1 in 2014–15; November 1 in 2013–14; December 1 through 2012–13State law
MinnesotaSeptember 1State law
MississippiSeptember 1State law
MissouriJuly 31State law
MontanaSeptember 10State law
NebraskaJuly 31State law
NevadaAugust 1State law
New HampshireEach district sets itDistricts (ECS only)
New JerseyOctober 1 since 2025–26; each district set it through 2024–25State law
New MexicoAugust 31State law
New YorkEach district sets it (we start from December 1)Districts
North CarolinaAugust 31 since 2009–10; October 16 through 2008–09State law
North DakotaJuly 31State law
OhioEach district sets it since 2026–27; September 30 through 2025–26Districts
OklahomaSeptember 1State law
OregonSeptember 1State law
PennsylvaniaEach district sets itDistricts
Rhode IslandSeptember 1State law
South CarolinaSeptember 1State law
South DakotaSeptember 1State law
TennesseeAugust 15State law (ECS only)
TexasSeptember 1State law
UtahSeptember 1State law
VermontJanuary 1 (the January after school starts)State default; districts may choose an earlier date
VirginiaSeptember 30State law
WashingtonAugust 31State law
West VirginiaJune 30 since 2019–20; August 31 through 2018–19State law
WisconsinSeptember 1State law
WyomingAugust 1State law

How it works

A child starts kindergarten in the first school year whose cutoff date falls on or after the child's 5th birthday. 12th grade comes 12 school years later, and the class is named for the spring that 12th grade ends.

Class of = fall year of kindergarten + 13

  1. Find the 5th birthday.
  2. Compare it with the state's cutoff that year: on or before the cutoff means kindergarten that fall; after it means the next fall.
  3. Add 12 school years to reach 12th grade.
  4. The class year is the spring 12th grade ends: kindergarten fall year + 13. A year early or late moves it by one.

Born June 15, 2021, in Florida (must be 5 on or before September 1)

  • 5th birthday: June 15, 2026
  • June 15, 2026 is on or before September 1, 2026, so kindergarten starts in 2026–27
  • 12th grade: 2038–39
  • 2026 + 13 = 2039

Class of 2039

Related: what grade was I in calculator

What this doesn't account for

  • Your district's own cutoff date or placement decision, unless you enter the date
  • Older cutoff rules for most states: 14 states and DC have dated rules here, and the result says when it uses today's date instead
  • More than one repeated or skipped grade (the late or early option moves the class by one year)
  • Private schools, homeschooling and school systems outside the US

Sources

  1. State K-3 Policies 2026: What is the state's kindergarten entrance date cutoff?Education Commission of the States. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  2. 50-State Comparison: State K-3 PoliciesEducation Commission of the States. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  3. Alaska Statutes § 14.03.080 (Right to attend school)Alaska State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  4. Alaska Statutes § 14.03.070 (School age)Alaska State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  5. HB 114 enrolled (chapter 40, SLA 2022), the Alaska Reads ActAlaska State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  6. Code of Alabama § 16-28-4Alabama Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  7. Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-821Arizona State Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  8. SB 1381 (Chapter 705, Statutes of 2010), Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, chaptered textCalifornia Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  9. Welcome Families (Kindergarten in Colorado)Colorado Department of Education. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  10. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 22 (§ 22-54-103)Colorado General Assembly. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  11. Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 164 (§ 10-15c)Connecticut General Assembly. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  12. D.C. Code § 38-202Council of the District of Columbia. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  13. Delaware Code Title 14, Chapter 27, Subchapter I (§ 2702)Delaware General Assembly. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  14. Florida Statutes § 1003.21Florida Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  15. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 302A-411Hawaii State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  16. Iowa Code § 282.3Iowa Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  17. Idaho Code § 33-201Idaho State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  18. 105 ILCS 5/10-20.12Illinois General Assembly. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  19. K.S.A. 72-3118Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  20. KRS 158.030Kentucky General Assembly. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  21. La. R.S. 17:151.3Louisiana State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  22. 603 CMR 8.00: Kindergartens: Minimum School AgeMassachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  23. COMAR 13A.08.01.02 Age for School AttendanceMaryland Division of State Documents. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  24. Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A § 5201Maine Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  25. MCL 380.1147Michigan Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  26. 2012 Public Act 198 (amending MCL 380.1147)Michigan Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  27. Minnesota Statutes § 120A.20Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  28. RSMo § 160.053Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  29. House Bill 173, 2026 Regular Session (as introduced), reprinting Miss. Code § 37-15-9Mississippi Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  30. Montana Code Annotated 2025, § 20-7-117Montana Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  31. N.C. General Statutes § 115C-364North Carolina General Assembly. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  32. Session Law 2007-173 (House Bill 150)North Carolina General Assembly. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  33. North Dakota Century Code chapter 15.1-06 (§ 15.1-06-01)North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  34. Nebraska Revised Statute 79-214Nebraska Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  35. Senate Bill 64, 2026 session (as introduced), reprinting NMSA 1978 § 22-1-2New Mexico Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  36. NRS Chapter 392 (NRS 392.040 and 392.060)Nevada Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  37. P.L.2025, c.100 (S3910), § 12 amending N.J.S.A. 18A:44-2New Jersey Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  38. S3910 (First Reprint), showing the changes to N.J.S.A. 18A:44-2New Jersey Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  39. Education Law § 3202New York State Education Department. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  40. KindergartenNew York City Public Schools. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  41. Ohio Revised Code § 3321.01Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  42. Ohio Revised Code § 3321.01 (version effective October 3, 2023)Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  43. Oklahoma Statutes Title 70 (70 O.S. § 18-108)Oklahoma State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  44. ORS Chapter 336 (ORS 336.092)Oregon State Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  45. 22 Pa. Code § 11.14Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  46. R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-27Rhode Island General Assembly. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  47. South Carolina Code Title 59, Chapter 63 (§ 59-63-20)South Carolina Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  48. SDCL 13-28-2South Dakota Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  49. Texas Education Code Chapter 29 (§ 29.151)Texas Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  50. Utah Code § 53G-4-402 (version effective July 1, 2026)Utah State Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  51. Code of Virginia § 22.1-199Virginia General Assembly. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  52. 16 V.S.A. § 1073Vermont General Assembly. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  53. WAC 392-335-010Washington State Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  54. Wis. Stat. § 118.14Wisconsin State Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  55. W. Va. Code § 18-5-18West Virginia Legislature. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
  56. Wyoming Statutes Title 21 (W.S. 21-4-302)Wyoming Legislature. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
  57. Condition of Education: GlossaryNational Center for Education Statistics. Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Verified by

Checked by CountOnTools against its official sources on Oct 19, 2026. How we verify

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