Your high school graduation year is the year you start kindergarten plus 13 — for most children, birth year + 18 if their birthday is on or before the state's kindergarten cutoff, or birth year + 19 if it's after. High school starts four years before graduation, so the class of 2027 started 9th grade in fall 2023. Enter a birth date, a current grade or a graduation year above.
Kindergarten cutoff dates for all 50 states and DC come from the Education Commission of the States 50-state comparison (September 2026), which is compiled from state statutes and regulations.
How to use the graduation year calculator
- Date of birth: enter the birth date and pick your state, or type a custom cutoff (default September 1). You get the class of year, kindergarten start, freshman and senior years.
- Current grade: pick the grade your child is in this school year. This works even if they started late or repeated a grade.
- Graduation year (reverse): enter a class of year to see when that class started high school and kindergarten, and the birth-date range for students who started on time.
- Open “Grade for every school year” to see the whole K–12 timeline.
How graduation year is calculated
- Kindergarten entry: a child enters in the fall of the year they turn 5 if their birthday is on or before the state cutoff; otherwise the next fall.
- 13 school years: kindergarten plus grades 1–12, so graduation is in the spring of kindergarten year + 13.
- High school: grades 9–12 (the high school level NCES uses), so freshman year starts in the fall of graduation year − 4.
- From a grade: class of = spring year of the current school year + (12 − grade). From July 1 the calculator treats summer as the next school year.
Example: born May 15, 2012 with a September 1 cutoff → kindergarten fall 2017 → class of 2030. Born September 15, 2012 → kindergarten fall 2018 → class of 2031. In Colorado (cutoff October 1) the September 15 birthday makes the earlier year: class of 2030.
Timeline for each graduating class
Each class starts 9th grade four falls before graduation and kindergarten thirteen falls before. Birth dates assume a September 1 cutoff and on-time entry with no repeated or skipped grades.
| Class of | Started high school | Freshman year | Started kindergarten | Born (Sept 1 cutoff) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fall 2022 | 2022–23 | Fall 2013 | September 2, 2007 – September 1, 2008 |
| 2027 | Fall 2023 | 2023–24 | Fall 2014 | September 2, 2008 – September 1, 2009 |
| 2028 | Fall 2024 | 2024–25 | Fall 2015 | September 2, 2009 – September 1, 2010 |
| 2029 | Fall 2025 | 2025–26 | Fall 2016 | September 2, 2010 – September 1, 2011 |
| 2030 | Fall 2026 | 2026–27 | Fall 2017 | September 2, 2011 – September 1, 2012 |
| 2031 | Fall 2027 | 2027–28 | Fall 2018 | September 2, 2012 – September 1, 2013 |
| 2032 | Fall 2028 | 2028–29 | Fall 2019 | September 2, 2013 – September 1, 2014 |
| 2033 | Fall 2029 | 2029–30 | Fall 2020 | September 2, 2014 – September 1, 2015 |
| 2034 | Fall 2030 | 2030–31 | Fall 2021 | September 2, 2015 – September 1, 2016 |
| 2035 | Fall 2031 | 2031–32 | Fall 2022 | September 2, 2016 – September 1, 2017 |
| 2036 | Fall 2032 | 2032–33 | Fall 2023 | September 2, 2017 – September 1, 2018 |
| 2037 | Fall 2033 | 2033–34 | Fall 2024 | September 2, 2018 – September 1, 2019 |
| 2038 | Fall 2034 | 2034–35 | Fall 2025 | September 2, 2019 – September 1, 2020 |
| 2039 | Fall 2035 | 2035–36 | Fall 2026 | September 2, 2020 – September 1, 2021 |
Graduation year by birth year
The class of year for each birth year, split at a September 1 cutoff (the most common state date) and assuming on-time kindergarten entry.
| Born in | Birthday Jan 1 – Sept 1 | Birthday Sept 2 – Dec 31 |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Class of 2022 | Class of 2023 |
| 2005 | Class of 2023 | Class of 2024 |
| 2006 | Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 |
| 2007 | Class of 2025 | Class of 2026 |
| 2008 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 |
| 2009 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 |
| 2010 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2029 |
| 2011 | Class of 2029 | Class of 2030 |
| 2012 | Class of 2030 | Class of 2031 |
| 2013 | Class of 2031 | Class of 2032 |
| 2014 | Class of 2032 | Class of 2033 |
| 2015 | Class of 2033 | Class of 2034 |
| 2016 | Class of 2034 | Class of 2035 |
| 2017 | Class of 2035 | Class of 2036 |
| 2018 | Class of 2036 | Class of 2037 |
| 2019 | Class of 2037 | Class of 2038 |
| 2020 | Class of 2038 | Class of 2039 |
| 2021 | Class of 2039 | Class of 2040 |
| 2022 | Class of 2040 | Class of 2041 |
| 2023 | Class of 2041 | Class of 2042 |
| 2024 | Class of 2042 | Class of 2043 |
| 2025 | Class of 2043 | Class of 2044 |
For another cutoff, the split moves to your state's date: in a July 31 state such as Hawaii or Nebraska, a child born August 10, 2020 is class of 2039; in a September 1 state, class of 2038.
Class of by current grade (2026–27 school year)
Works regardless of birth date or state, because it starts from the grade a student is actually in.
| Grade now | Class of | Starts / started high school |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 2039 | Fall 2035 |
| 1st grade | 2038 | Fall 2034 |
| 2nd grade | 2037 | Fall 2033 |
| 3rd grade | 2036 | Fall 2032 |
| 4th grade | 2035 | Fall 2031 |
| 5th grade | 2034 | Fall 2030 |
| 6th grade | 2033 | Fall 2029 |
| 7th grade | 2032 | Fall 2028 |
| 8th grade | 2031 | Fall 2027 |
| 9th grade (Freshman) | 2030 | Fall 2026 |
| 10th grade (Sophomore) | 2029 | Fall 2025 |
| 11th grade (Junior) | 2028 | Fall 2024 |
| 12th grade (Senior) | 2027 | Fall 2023 |
Kindergarten cutoff dates by state
A child must be 5 on or before the date shown (ECS, State K-3 Policies, September 2026). “Prior to September 1” means the last qualifying birthday is August 31.
Cutoff dates for all 50 states and DC
| State | Age 5 … | Last qualifying birthday |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Alaska | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Arizona | prior to September 1 | August 31 |
| Arkansas | on or prior to August 1 | August 1 |
| California | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Colorado | on or prior to October 1 | October 1 |
| Connecticut | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Delaware | on or before August 31 | August 31 |
| District of Columbia | on or prior to September 30 | September 30 |
| Florida | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Georgia | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Hawaii | on or prior to July 31 | July 31 |
| Idaho | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Illinois | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Indiana | on or prior to August 1 | August 1 |
| Iowa | on or prior to September 15 | September 15 |
| Kansas | on or prior to August 31 | August 31 |
| Kentucky | before August 1 | July 31 |
| Louisiana | on or prior to September 30 | September 30 |
| Maine | on or prior to October 15 | October 15 |
| Maryland | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Massachusetts | each district sets its own age | District decides |
| Michigan | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Minnesota | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Mississippi | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Missouri | prior to August 1 | July 31 |
| Montana | on or prior to September 10 | September 10 |
| Nebraska | on or prior to July 31 | July 31 |
| Nevada | on or prior to August 1 | August 1 |
| New Hampshire | not specified in statute or regulation | District decides |
| New Jersey | on or prior to October 1 | October 1 |
| New Mexico | prior to September 1 | August 31 |
| New York | set by the school district | District decides |
| North Carolina | on or prior to August 31 | August 31 |
| North Dakota | prior to August 1 | July 31 |
| Ohio | by the first day of school | District decides |
| Oklahoma | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Oregon | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Pennsylvania | districts set the age (over 4 before the first day) | District decides |
| Rhode Island | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| South Carolina | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| South Dakota | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Tennessee | on or prior to August 15 | August 15 |
| Texas | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Utah | on or prior to September 2 | September 2 |
| Vermont | before January 1 | December 31 |
| Virginia | on or prior to September 30 | September 30 |
| Washington | on or prior to August 31 | August 31 |
| West Virginia | prior to September 1 | August 31 |
| Wisconsin | on or prior to September 1 | September 1 |
| Wyoming | on or prior to August 1 | August 1 |
Many states allow early-entrance waivers or let parents delay entry, and the ECS notes its data covers statutes and regulations only. Private schools can set their own rules. If your child's actual start differs, use the current-grade mode.
Common mistakes
- Adding 18 to every birth year. Birthdays after the cutoff graduate a year later (birth year + 19).
- Counting 12 years instead of 13. Kindergarten is a school year too: K plus grades 1–12 is 13.
- Mixing up the school year. The 2026–27 school year ends in spring 2027, so a senior that year is the class of 2027.
- Using the wrong state. Cutoffs range from July 31 (e.g. Hawaii, Nebraska) to October 15 (Maine) and “before January 1” (Vermont).
To find a child's exact age on the cutoff date, use the age calculator; to count the days until graduation, the days from today calculator.
Frequently asked questions
If I graduate in 2027, when did I start high school?
In the fall of 2023. The class of 2027 were freshmen (9th grade) in 2023–24, started kindergarten in fall 2014, and with a September 1 cutoff were born between September 2, 2008 – September 1, 2009.
What year will my child graduate high school?
Add 18 to the birth year if your child turns 5 on or before your state's kindergarten cutoff, or 19 if the birthday falls after it. For example, a child born March 10, 2021 starts kindergarten in fall 2026 and graduates in 2039.
How do you calculate graduation year from grade?
Take the spring year of the current school year and add 12 minus the grade. In the 2026–27 school year a 9th grader is the class of 2030, a 10th grader 2029, and a kindergartner 2039.
What year did I graduate if I was born in 2007?
Class of 2025 if you were born before your state's cutoff (for example on or before September 1, 2007), or class of 2026 if your birthday was after it — assuming you started kindergarten on time and never repeated or skipped a grade.
How old are you when you graduate high school?
Usually 17 or 18. NCES notes students normally complete grade 12 by age 18. A child with a birthday just before the cutoff graduates at 17 and turns 18 that summer; one with a birthday just after the cutoff is 18 for most of senior year.
What grade is the class of 2030 in?
In the 2026–27 school year, the class of 2030 is in 9th grade. They started high school in fall 2026.
What is the kindergarten cutoff date in my state?
Most states require children to be 5 on or before a date between late July and mid-October; 19 states use September 1. Vermont uses "before January 1", and Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania leave it to districts or don't set one (ECS, September 2026). See the full table below.
Does a birthday on the cutoff date count?
Most states say "on or prior to" the date, so a child who turns 5 on September 1 qualifies in a September 1 state. A few say "prior to" (e.g. Arizona, New Mexico and West Virginia: prior to September 1), so the birthday must be the day before. The state picker handles this.
What if my child starts kindergarten a year late or skips a grade?
Use the Current grade mode instead of the birth date: it works from the grade your child is actually in, so delayed entry, repeating or skipping a grade is already reflected.
Sources & method
- Education Commission of the States — 50-State Comparison: State K-3 Policies, kindergarten entrance date cutoff (Sept 2026)
- NCES State Education Practices, Table 1.3 — kindergarten entrance age by state (2020)
- NCES Mini-Digest of Education Statistics 2010 — The Structure of American Education (grade 12 by age 18)
- NCES Career/Technical Education Statistics — high school level defined as grades 9–12
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.