Maryland Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Maryland, a child must turn 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. Maryland does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Maryland's public pre-K program, Prekindergarten (Blueprint Pre-K Expansion), is available to eligible families (age 3 or 4 by September 1; free for families at/below ~300% FPL under the Blueprint — moving toward but not yet fully universal).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Prekindergarten (Blueprint Pre-K Expansion) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 5 |
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Maryland age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. Kindergarten is mandatory (every child 5 by September 1 must attend); a one-year maturity waiver is allowed. Cutoff verified from the official Maryland source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.