State guide · Oklahoma · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Oklahoma?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The Oklahoma rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 1-114 |
| School required from | Age 5 to age 18 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | Yes — attendance is required |
How Oklahoma compares
20 states use the same September 1 cutoff: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, 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, Oklahoma among them. That is as early as anywhere in the country requires it.
Oklahoma is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.
School districts in Oklahoma
See the 506 school districts in Oklahoma, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website. County directories: Creek County · Grady County · Le Flore County · McCurtain County · Oklahoma County · Pittsburg County · Pottawatomie County · Tulsa County.
Starting early in Oklahoma
Oklahoma 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.