Texas Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Texas, a child must turn 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. Texas does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Texas's public pre-K program, Texas Public Prekindergarten, is available to eligible families (age 4 by September 1 plus an eligibility criterion (low-income, limited English, homeless, foster, or military/first-responder family)).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Texas Public Prekindergarten — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 6 |
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Texas 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 Texas source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.