Texas school age calculator
Texas requires children to turn 5 on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten that fall. Enter your child's date of birth to check eligibility and view their complete school year timeline.
Select your country and region, then choose the child's date of birth to see their grade and school timeline.
Texas kindergarten law and the September 1 cutoff
Texas Education Code §25.001 requires children to be 5 years old on or before September 1 to enroll in public kindergarten. Compulsory school attendance begins at age 6 in Texas, but kindergarten is treated as compulsory in practice: children who turn 6 during the school year must be enrolled. There is no Transitional Kindergarten equivalent in Texas — children who miss the September 1 cutoff wait until the following fall. The September 1 cutoff is applied statewide; no district-level variation is permitted.
Texas Public Pre-K: who qualifies and how to apply
Texas law requires every school district to offer a free, full-day Pre-K program for eligible 4-year-olds (and some 3-year-olds). Eligibility categories include: household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, English language learners, children of active-duty military personnel or veterans, children in or exiting foster care, children who are homeless, and children whose parent or guardian is on active duty in the military. Eligibility for Pre-K does not require the child to turn 4 by September 1 — but they must turn 4 during the school year. To apply, contact your child's assigned school district directly; most open Pre-K enrollment in March or April for the following fall.
Enrollment process: Houston ISD and Dallas ISD
Texas's two largest districts — Houston ISD and Dallas ISD — both use September 1 as the cutoff. Houston ISD opens kindergarten enrollment in January through the HISD enrollment portal. Dallas ISD opens enrollment in February. Required documents are similar across most Texas districts: original birth certificate, up-to-date immunization records (Texas requires DTP, polio, MMR, Hep B, Hep A, and varicella), proof of Texas residency (two documents such as a utility bill and a lease or bank statement), and a Social Security card if available. Enrollment is assigned by attendance zone; charter schools conduct separate lotteries.
Texas compulsory education and late enrollment
Texas compulsory attendance law (Texas Ed Code §25.085) requires enrollment beginning at age 6. However, a child who turns 6 after the September 1 cutoff must enroll in Grade 1 (not kindergarten) if they have not previously attended kindergarten. Districts may assess whether the child is ready for Grade 1 or needs to start in kindergarten. Parents who homeschool must comply with Texas homeschooling exemptions — the state has relatively permissive homeschool laws and does not require state approval, but home-educated children are still subject to compulsory attendance requirements.
What to do if your child misses the September 1 cutoff
If your child turns 5 on September 2 or later, they must wait until the following fall for public kindergarten. Options during the gap year include: enrolling in a private kindergarten program (then transferring to public Grade 1 the following year, subject to district assessment), enrolling in a licensed daycare or preschool program to maintain learning momentum, or applying for Texas public Pre-K if your child meets one of the eligibility categories. Research on the relative age effect consistently shows that children who are among the oldest in their class outperform younger classmates on academic and social measures through at least middle school.
FAQ
What is the kindergarten cutoff date in Texas?
September 1. Children must turn 5 on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten for that school year. This is a statewide rule — no district can use a different cutoff.
Is kindergarten mandatory in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires children to be enrolled in school starting at age 6. Since kindergarten is the normal entry at 5, and compulsory attendance starts at 6, virtually all children attend kindergarten.
Does Texas have free Pre-K?
Yes, for eligible 4-year-olds. Texas districts must offer free, full-day Pre-K to children who meet income guidelines (≤185% poverty level), are English language learners, are in foster care, have a parent on active military duty, or are homeless. Pre-K is not universal — eligibility criteria apply.
When does kindergarten enrollment open in Texas?
Most Texas districts open enrollment in January–March for the following fall. Houston ISD typically opens in January; Dallas ISD in February. Contact your specific district for exact dates and required documents.
What happens if my child misses the September 1 cutoff in Texas?
They wait until the following fall for public kindergarten. You can enroll them in private kindergarten in the meantime. There is no Texas TK program. Being older when entering kindergarten is academically advantageous on average.