Minnesota Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Minnesota, a child must turn 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. Minnesota does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Minnesota's public pre-K program, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), is available to eligible families (age 4 by September 1; free where offered but capacity-limited and only in participating districts).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 7 |
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Minnesota 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 Minnesota source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.