State guide · Texas · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Texas?
Children must be 5 on or before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The Texas rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | Tex. Educ. Code § 25.001 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 19 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | No — kindergarten is optional |
How Texas 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, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, 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, Texas among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Like most of the country, Texas does not mandate kindergarten — only 17 states and DC do.
School districts in Texas
See the 1,022 school districts in Texas, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website. County directories: Bexar County · Collin County · Dallas County · Denton County · Grayson County · Harris County · Hidalgo County · McLennan County · Nueces County · Tarrant County · Williamson County.
Starting early in Texas
Districts may admit a younger child early under the gifted-and-talented admission provisions of Tex. Educ. Code § 29.151.
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.