District of Columbia Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In District of Columbia, a child must turn 5 by September 30 to start kindergarten that fall. District of Columbia does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. District of Columbia's public pre-K program, DC Universal Pre-K (PK3 and PK4), is open to all 4-year-olds (PK3: turn 3 by September 30; PK4: turn 4 by September 30 — free/universal (in-boundary seat via lottery)).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 30 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | DC Universal Pre-K (PK3 and PK4) — universal (age 4) |
| Compulsory school age | 5 |
When can my child start? Personalize it
Enter your child's birth month and year — we don't ask for the exact day.
✓ You're set — we'll email you when it's time. You can also browse preschools near you.
District of Columbia age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. Cutoff verified from the official District of Columbia source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.