North Dakota Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In North Dakota, a child must turn 5 by August 1 to start kindergarten that fall. North Dakota does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. North Dakota's public pre-K program, North Dakota Early Childhood Education Grant Program, is available to eligible families (small grant-based state pre-K (limited seats, need/grant based); not universal).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by August 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | North Dakota Early Childhood Education Grant Program — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 7 |
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.
North Dakota age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. Statute (NDCC 15.1-22-02) phrases it as a child must be 5 before August 1 (i.e. by July 31). Cutoff verified from the official North Dakota source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.