School Age and Grade Levels by The American School System
Transferring your child from one educational system to another might confuse you regarding age-grade level. If you are trying to understand the correlation between a child’s age and their grade level in the American schooling system, you’re in the right place. Our comprehensive guide on age-grade levels will save you time.
We’ll help you understand the relationship between school age and year-to-grade mapping. Additionally, our educational consultants can assist you during the enrollment, making sure your child is placed in the proper grade.
Understanding the American Schooling System
Before delving into specific age-grade combinations, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamentals of the American schooling system. The United States’ educational system is diverse and may differ from those in other countries.
Consequently, some exceptions and variations exist when correlating age and grade. This guide provides a general overview to help you navigate the system effectively.
Elementary School
Elementary school age typically starts at 5 years old with kindergarten up until a child is around 10.
Here’s a breakdown of the grades and approximate ages associated with elementary school:
- Kindergarten: 5 years old;
- 1st Grade: 6 years old;
- 2nd Grade: 7 years old;
- 3rd Grade: 8 years old;
- 4th Grade: 9 years old;
- 5th Grade: 10 years old.
Middle School
Middle school starts in the 6th grade when children are usually around 11 years old and ends around the time they turn 13.
Here’s an overview of middle school grades and ages:
- 6th Grade: 11 years old;
- 7th Grade: 12 years old;
- 8th Grade: 13 years old.
High School
High school begins at 9th grade when students are around 14 years old up until they become adults at 18.
Here’s a breakdown of high school grades and ages:
- 9th Grade: 14 years old;
- 10th Grade: 15 years old;
- 11th Grade: 16 years old;
- 12th Grade: 17 to 18 years old.
Here is a table that shows which age belongs to which grade:
| Ages | US/International grades | School |
|---|---|---|
| 6 – 7 | 1st Grade | Elementary School |
| 7 – 8 | 2nd Grade | |
| 8 – 9 | 3rd Grade | |
| 9 – 10 | 4th Grade | |
| 10 – 11 | 5th Grade | |
| 11 – 12 | 6th Grade | Middle School |
| 12 – 13 | 7th Grade | |
| 13 – 14 | 8th Grade | |
| 14 – 15 | 9th Grade | High School |
| 15 – 16 | 10th Grade | |
| 16 – 17 | 11th Grade | |
| 17 – 18 | 12th Grade |
Exceptions and Variations
While the information provided above offers a general guideline for the American schooling system, it’s essential to remember that exceptions can exist. For example, birthdate cutoffs, country-specific regulations, and individual student circumstances can lead to variations.
Therefore, we suggest you contact our academic consultant to get precise information about the grade at which we can place your child.
To get in touch with our consultant, please send an email to admissions@eduww.net asking about the adequate grade for them. Make sure to attach your child’s latest academic transcript (report card) and their date of birth.
In situations where it is not easy to determine in what grade the child can be enrolled based on their age and latest academic transcript, our school will use the Placement test. This assessment determines a student’s current level of knowledge and suggests the proper grade level for them.
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