State guide · Rhode Island · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Rhode Island?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The Rhode Island rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | 16 R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-2-27 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 18 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | Yes — attendance is required |
How Rhode Island compares
20 states use the same September 1 cutoff: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, 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.
28 states require school attendance to begin at age 6, Rhode Island among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Rhode Island is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.
School districts in Rhode Island
See the 36 school districts in Rhode Island, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website. County directories: Providence County.
Starting early in Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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.