State guide · Wisconsin · 2026–27
What grade is my kid in Wisconsin?
Children must turn 5 on or before September 1.
Calculate for your child
The Wisconsin rule in detail
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Who sets it | Set statewide |
| Legal basis | Wis. Stat. § 118.14 |
| School required from | Age 6 to age 18 |
| Kindergarten mandatory? | Yes — attendance is required |
How Wisconsin 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, Texas and Utah. 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, Wisconsin among them. 11 states and DC start compulsory schooling earlier.
Wisconsin is one of 17 states and DC that require kindergarten attendance outright; in most of the country it is optional.
School districts in Wisconsin
See the 420 school districts in Wisconsin, county by county, with enrollment and each district's website. County directories: Dane County · Grant County · Kenosha County · Milwaukee County · Racine County · Walworth County · Waukesha County.
Starting early in Wisconsin
A school board may set procedures, conditions and standards for early admission to kindergarten.
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.