School Attendance Age by State
Look up the compulsory starting age and legal leaving age for school in any U.S. state.
At what age must your child start school — and when can they legally leave? Pick a state to see the compulsory ages.
All 50 States + D.C.
Alabama School Attendance AgeAlaska School Attendance AgeArizona School Attendance AgeArkansas School Attendance AgeCalifornia School Attendance AgeColorado School Attendance AgeConnecticut School Attendance AgeDelaware School Attendance AgeDistrict of Columbia School Attendance AgeFlorida School Attendance AgeGeorgia School Attendance AgeHawaii School Attendance AgeIdaho School Attendance AgeIllinois School Attendance AgeIndiana School Attendance AgeIowa School Attendance AgeKansas School Attendance AgeKentucky School Attendance AgeLouisiana School Attendance AgeMaine School Attendance AgeMaryland School Attendance AgeMassachusetts School Attendance AgeMichigan School Attendance AgeMinnesota School Attendance AgeMississippi School Attendance AgeMissouri School Attendance AgeMontana School Attendance AgeNebraska School Attendance AgeNevada School Attendance AgeNew Hampshire School Attendance AgeNew Jersey School Attendance AgeNew Mexico School Attendance AgeNew York School Attendance AgeNorth Carolina School Attendance AgeNorth Dakota School Attendance AgeOhio School Attendance AgeOklahoma School Attendance AgeOregon School Attendance AgePennsylvania School Attendance AgeRhode Island School Attendance AgeSouth Carolina School Attendance AgeSouth Dakota School Attendance AgeTennessee School Attendance AgeTexas School Attendance AgeUtah School Attendance AgeVermont School Attendance AgeVirginia School Attendance AgeWashington School Attendance AgeWest Virginia School Attendance AgeWisconsin School Attendance AgeWyoming School Attendance Age
Understand the rules
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common age to start school?
Most states require school by age 6, though some begin at 5 or 7. Use the lookup above for your state.
At what age can a student drop out?
The legal leaving age ranges from 16 to 19 by state. See your state page for the exact number.
Does homeschooling count as attendance?
Yes — every state allows homeschooling or private schooling as a compulsory-attendance alternative. See the exemption guide.