School age calculator
Find out what year your child can start preschool and kindergarten.
Preschool
Kindergarten
How we calculate starting age
Preschool
Your child must be aged 4 on or before 30 April of the year they start preschool. If they turn 4 after 30 April, they can start the following year.
Kindergarten
Your child must be aged 5 on or before 30 April of the year they start school (kindergarten is the first year of primary school).
Compulsory school age
By law, every child in the ACT must attend school (or be registered for home education) from 6 years of age until they complete year 12 or turn 17, whichever happens first.
If this is not possible, or you want to delay your child starting, find out how to get an exemption from full-time schooling.