Which state has the highest Compulsory School Age?

Washington has the highest Compulsory School Age, at 8, followed by North Carolina (7) and Indiana (7).

Which state has the lowest Compulsory School Age?

District of Columbia has the lowest Compulsory School Age, at 5.

What is the median Compulsory School Age across US states?

The median is 6 across the 51 US states with data.

Where does this age to start kindergarten by state data come from?

Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: State Education Practices (SEP) - IES National Center for Education Statistics.

State rankings

Age to Start Kindergarten by State

Name: Age to Start Kindergarten by State
Creator: Rankodex

Washington has the highest Compulsory School Age (8), followed by North Carolina (7) and Indiana (7). District of Columbia has the lowest (5).

Education Law51 states · 6 metricsUpdated May 23, 2025Original page

1 source

State Education Practices (SEP) - IES National Center for Education Statistics

ShowingCompulsory School AgeBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →

51 of 51 states

Compare this metric Add to combined ranking Open full map

Compulsory School Age

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 51 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median

Middle half 6 – 6.5

Average

6.04

51 states

Highest

Washington

Lowest

District of Columbia

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Compulsory School Age

#
1	Washington	8	5 by 8/31
2	North Carolina	7	5 by 8/31
2	Indiana	7	5 by 8/1
2	Missouri	7	5 by 7/31
2	Minnesota	7	5 by 9/1
2	Louisiana	7	5 by 9/30
2	Nevada	7	5 by 9/30
2	Kansas	7	5 by 8/31
2	Idaho	7	5 by 9/1
2	Montana	7	5 by 9/10
2	North Dakota	7	5 by 7/31
2	Alaska	7	5 by 9/1
2	Wyoming	7	5 by 9/15
14	California	6	5 by 9/1
14	Texas	6	5 by 9/1
14	Florida	6	5 by 9/1
14	New York	6	LEA option
14	Pennsylvania	6	LEA option
14	Illinois	6	5 by 9/1
14	Ohio	6	LEA option
14	Georgia	6	5 by 9/1
14	Michigan	6	5 by 9/1
14	New Jersey	6	LEA option
14	Arizona	6	5 by 8/31
14	Tennessee	6	5 by 8/15
14	Massachusetts	6	Variable
14	Colorado	6	5 by 10/1
14	Wisconsin	6	5 by 9/1
14	Alabama	6	5 by 9/1
14	Kentucky	6	5 by 7/31
14	Oregon	6	5 by 9/1
14	Utah	6	5 by 9/1
14	Iowa	6	5 by 9/15
14	Mississippi	6	5 by 9/1
14	Nebraska	6	5 by 9/30
14	West Virginia	6	5 by 8/31
14	New Hampshire	6	Unspecified
14	Maine	6	5 by 10/15
14	Vermont	6	5
40	Virginia	5	5 by 9/30
40	Maryland	5	5 by 9/1
40	South Carolina	5	5 by 9/1
40	Oklahoma	5	5 by 9/1
40	Connecticut	5	5 by 1/1
40	Arkansas	5	5 by 8/1
40	New Mexico	5	5 by 9/1
40	Hawaii	5	5 by 7/31
40	Rhode Island	5	5 by 9/1
40	Delaware	5	5 by 8/31
40	South Dakota	5	5 by 9/1
40	District of Columbia	5	5 by 9/30

What correlates with Compulsory School Age?

Pearson r against 2,096 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Compulsory School Age tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

Net Approval RatingTrump Approval Rating by State
r = +0.55 · strong · n = 51
Plot
Wheat Production ValueWheat Production by State
r = +0.48 · moderate · n = 36
Plot
Wheat ProductionWheat Production by State
r = +0.47 · moderate · n = 36
Plot
Year Common Core Was AdoptedCommon Core States
r = +0.47 · moderate · n = 46
Plot
Lowest BracketIncome Tax by State
r = +0.44 · moderate · n = 41
Plot
Individual Income Tax RankBest State To Incorporate InA rank: rank 1 is the best
r = −0.44 · moderate · n = 51
Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Compulsory School Age tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

% of Registered DemocratsRegistered Voters by Party
r = −0.53 · strong · n = 31
Plot
Overall Camping Rating (1-10)Best States for Camping
r = −0.50 · moderate · n = 50
Plot
% of People Who Consume Soda Daily 2010-2015Soda Consumption by State
r = −0.45 · moderate · n = 50
Plot
Prescription Drugs and Other Medical Products Cost per CapitaHealth Care Costs by State
r = −0.43 · moderate · n = 51
Plot
DTaP 5 DosesVaccination Rates by State
r = −0.42 · moderate · n = 50
Plot
% Tried to QuitSmoking Rates by State
r = −0.41 · moderate · n = 51
Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Compulsory School Age?: Washington has the highest Compulsory School Age, at 8, followed by North Carolina (7) and Indiana (7).
Which state has the lowest Compulsory School Age?: District of Columbia has the lowest Compulsory School Age, at 5.
What is the median Compulsory School Age across US states?: The median is 6 across the 51 US states with data.
Where does this age to start kindergarten by state data come from?: Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: State Education Practices (SEP) - IES National Center for Education Statistics.