South Carolina Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In South Carolina, a child must turn 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. South Carolina does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. South Carolina's public pre-K program, CERDEP / First Steps 4K (full-day 4K), is available to eligible families (age 4 by September 1; at-risk eligibility (free/reduced-price lunch or Medicaid)).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | CERDEP / First Steps 4K (full-day 4K) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 5 |
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South Carolina 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 South Carolina source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.