Tennessee Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Tennessee, a child must turn 5 by August 15 to start kindergarten that fall. Tennessee does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Tennessee's public pre-K program, Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK), is available to eligible families (age 4 by August 15; priority to at-risk children (free/reduced-lunch eligible)).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by August 15 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 6 |
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Tennessee 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 Tennessee source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.
Preschools in Tennessee
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.