Mississippi Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Mississippi, a child must turn 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. Mississippi does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Mississippi's public pre-K program, Early Learning Collaborative (ELC), is available to eligible families (age 4 by September 1; free in approved collaborative sites, limited by funded slots/geography).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 6 |
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.
Mississippi 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 Mississippi source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.
Kindergarten cutoffs in nearby states
Cutoff dates differ across the East South Central states — a birthday that misses the cutoff in one state can make it in another.