New York school age calculator
New York State law allows districts to set their own kindergarten cutoff, up to December 1. Most districts — including New York City — use September 1 or earlier. Select the cutoff your district uses and enter your child's birthday to check eligibility.
Select your country and region, then choose the child's date of birth to see their grade and school timeline.
Why New York's kindergarten cutoff varies by district
New York State Education Law §3202 gives individual school districts the authority to set their own kindergarten cutoff date, up to a maximum of December 1. This is unusual — most states have a single statewide cutoff. In New York, a child born October 15 might qualify for kindergarten in one district (if it uses a December 1 cutoff) but not in a neighboring district (if it uses September 1). Always confirm the cutoff with your specific district before assuming any date. Use the cutoff override field in the calculator to enter your district's exact date.
New York City: December 1 cutoff and the MySchools application
New York City uses December 1 as its kindergarten cutoff — the latest permissible under state law. A child born November 30 can start kindergarten in NYC that fall; a child born December 2 cannot. NYC kindergarten applications are submitted through the MySchools (myschools.nyc) portal. Applications typically open in November for the following fall and close in January. Families rank up to 12 school programs in order of preference. Seats are assigned based on geographic priority zones and availability. Zoned schools must accept in-zone students; non-zoned or out-of-zone seats are filled by lottery.
Universal Pre-K (UPK) and 3K for All in New York City
NYC's Universal Pre-K (UPK) program provides free, full-day pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-olds. The UPK birthday cutoff is December 1: children must turn 4 by December 1. Applications open in November through MySchools. NYC has also expanded 3K for All, offering free full-day programs for 3-year-olds across many neighborhoods. Outside NYC, New York State has funded pre-K expansion through the Serving All Students initiative, with many suburban and rural districts now offering state-funded pre-K seats for income-eligible 4-year-olds.
Suburban and upstate New York districts
Outside New York City, most suburban and upstate districts use September 1 as their cutoff, even though state law allows up to December 1. Districts like Yonkers, Schenectady, Albany, and Buffalo all use September 1. Long Island districts (Nassau and Suffolk counties) almost universally use December 1, aligning with NYC. Before enrolling, contact your district's enrollment office or check the district website for the official cutoff date. Enrollment typically opens in March–April for the following fall in suburban NY districts.
What to do if your child misses New York's cutoff
If your child misses your district's cutoff, check whether a neighboring district uses a later date — in New York this can genuinely differ across district lines. Beyond that, private kindergarten for the gap year is common, after which districts must assess the child for Grade 1 placement. Some districts offer readiness assessments for early entry, but these are district-by-district and not guaranteed. The UPK program (age 4) may be available as a bridge year if your child is 4 in the fall and the district offers UPK.
FAQ
What is New York's kindergarten cutoff date?
It varies by district. New York State allows districts to use any cutoff up to December 1. NYC and most Long Island districts use December 1. Most suburban and upstate districts use September 1. Always confirm with your specific district.
Does New York City use September 1 or December 1?
NYC uses December 1. A child born on November 30 can start kindergarten in NYC that fall; a child born December 2 must wait until the following year.
How do I apply for kindergarten in New York City?
Through the MySchools (myschools.nyc) portal. Applications typically open in November for the following fall and close in January. You rank up to 12 programs. In-zone seats at zoned schools are priority; non-zoned seats are filled by lottery.
Is kindergarten mandatory in New York?
Yes. New York requires school attendance starting at age 6. While kindergarten is technically not compulsory for 5-year-olds in all cases, virtually all districts require enrollment at 5 and Grade 1 is always compulsory.
What is Universal Pre-K in NYC?
A free, full-day pre-kindergarten program for all NYC 4-year-olds (birthday cutoff: December 1). Applications open in November through MySchools. NYC also offers 3K for All for 3-year-olds in many neighborhoods.