Compulsory School Age by State: Start and End Ages

Compulsory school age by state starts at 5 in Arkansas and reaches 8 in Washington; it ends at 16 in Alaska and reaches 19 in Texas.

The start age is when state law begins requiring your child to receive an education. The end age is when that compulsory requirement ends.

• 5Age 5 (10)
• 6Age 6 (29)
• 7Age 7 (10)
• 8Age 8 (1)

50 states · Letters or ages identify each tile; counts appear in the legend.

Age 18

Age 16

Age 17

Age 19

50 states · Bars show the number of states in each group.

Key Takeaways

• Start ages range from 5 to 8.
• End ages range from 16 to 19.
• Check your state’s rules before beginning homeschooling.

What Does Compulsory School Age Mean?

Compulsory school age is the age span when state law requires your child to receive an education through school attendance or a legal homeschool option. The start age marks when that requirement begins, and the end age marks when it stops.

The age range gives you a useful starting point for checking your state’s rules. Homeschool requirements can include steps such as filing a notice, so check the rules for your state.

At What Age Does Compulsory Schooling Start?

The compulsory start age ranges from 5 to 8, and 6 is the start age in 29 states.

• Age 5, 10 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia.
• Age 6, 29 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
• Age 7, 10 states: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
• Age 8, 1 state: Washington.

When Does Compulsory Schooling End?

The compulsory end age ranges from 16 to 19, and 18 is the end age in 22 states.

• Age 16, 16 states: Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
• Age 17, 11 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
• Age 18, 22 states: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
• Age 19, 1 state: Texas.

How Do Compulsory Ages Affect Homeschoolers?

Your state’s compulsory-age range helps show when homeschool rules, such as filing a notice, apply. The exact steps depend on your state’s requirements.

Some notice deadlines are tied to these ages. Colorado does not require notice before a child turns 6 or after 16, Minnesota’s first report is due by October 1 of the first school year after the child turns 7, and North Carolina wants notice at least five business days before starting, or before the child turns 7.

If your child is younger than the state’s start age, check your state’s homeschool rules before making plans. The age range alone does not explain every requirement or answer every question about when a child can start homeschooling.

Full 50-State Age Table

This table shows the compulsory start and end ages for all 50 states. Use your state’s page to check the homeschool rules that apply to your child.