What Grade Is My Kid2026–27

State guide · Iowa · 2026–27

What grade is my kid in Iowa?

Children must turn 5 on or before September 15.

Calculate for your child

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

The Iowa rule in detail

Kindergarten cutoffTurn 5 by September 15
Who sets itSet statewide
Legal basisIowa Code § 282.3
School required fromAge 6 to age 16
Kindergarten mandatory?No — kindergarten is optional

How Iowa compares

Iowa is the only place in the country using a September 15 kindergarten cutoff. 38 have an earlier cutoff and 6 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, Iowa among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.

Like most of the country, Iowa does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.

School districts in Iowa

See the 325 school districts in Iowa, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website. County directories: Linn County · Polk County.

Starting early in Iowa

A school board may require a greater age before a child begins 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 Iowa kindergarten cutoff?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 15.
Who sets the kindergarten cutoff in Iowa?
Iowa sets one entrance date statewide, so it's the same in every district. The rule lives in Iowa Code § 282.3.
Can a child start kindergarten early in Iowa?
A school board may require a greater age before a child begins kindergarten.
At what age is school required in Iowa?
In Iowa, school attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 16. Iowa does not require kindergarten attendance; compulsory schooling starts at age 6.
Is kindergarten mandatory in Iowa?
No — kindergarten is optional in Iowa.

Grade by age in Iowa — 2026–27

Grade by age in Iowa — 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: Iowa Code § 282.3. 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).
Iowa Dept. of Education — verify cutoff with your local school district before relying on this page for enrollment.
Spot something off about Iowa? Email birthdazeapp@proton.me and we'll fix it.