State guide · Maine · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Maine?
Children must turn 5 on or before October 15 — the latest fixed cutoff of any state.
Calculate for your child
The Maine rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by October 15 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5201 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 17 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | No — kindergarten is optional |
How Maine compares
Maine is the only place in the country using an October 15 kindergarten cutoff. 43 have an earlier cutoff and 1 has 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, Maine among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Like most of the country, Maine does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.
School districts in Maine
See the 253 school districts in Maine, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website. County directories: Aroostook County · Cumberland County · Hancock County · Lincoln County · Oxford County · Penobscot County · Somerset County · Washington County · York County.
Starting early in Maine
A student enrolled in public kindergarten in another state may enroll upon becoming a Maine resident.
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.