State guide · New Mexico · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in New Mexico?
Children must turn 5 before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The New Mexico rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | N.M. Stat. § 22-1-2; N.M. Admin. Code 6.30.5.9 |
| School required from | Age 5 to age 18 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | Yes — attendance is required |
How New Mexico compares
20 states use the same September 1 cutoff: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. 16 have an earlier cutoff and 8 have a later one, so a child born the same day can land a full grade apart depending on where they live.
11 states and DC require school attendance to begin at age 5, New Mexico among them. That is as early as anywhere in the country requires it.
New Mexico is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.
School districts in New Mexico
See the 89 school districts in New Mexico, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website.
Starting early in New Mexico
New Mexico law does not identify a general early-entrance waiver.
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.