Age by Grade: How Old Are Kids in Each US School Grade?
In the United States, children are usually 5 or 6 in kindergarten, 9 or 10 in 4th grade and 17 or 18 in 12th grade. The age by grade pattern is simple: each grade adds one year, and the exact age depends on when the child’s birthday falls compared with the state’s cutoff date. The chart below shows every grade from pre K to 12th grade, plus the birth dates for the 2026 to 2027 school year.
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Parents use this chart to check school readiness, plan a move between states, or understand where a transfer student will land. Families moving to the US from abroad also use it, because grade names do not match year groups in other countries. The calculator on this page places any child in a grade from their date of birth and state.
How to Use the Age by Grade Calculator
Enter the child's date of birth and choose the state, then pick the school year you are asking about. The tool applies that state's kindergarten cutoff and shows the expected grade, the child's age on the first day of school, and the age at the end of the year. If your state lets districts set their own cutoff, the tool uses the most common date and flags the difference.
The result is the typical placement, not a guarantee. Schools can place a child in a different grade after assessment, and some families choose to delay kindergarten by a year, a practice often called redshirting. The calculator shows both the expected grade and the grade one year behind for comparison.
Three steps
- 1Enter the date of birthThe child’s full birth date.
- 2Pick the cutoffThe date a child must turn 5 by to start kindergarten.
- 3Choose the school yearSee the grade, ages and class of year.
Age by Grade Chart
The chart uses a September 1 kindergarten cutoff, the most common date across US states. Ages in the middle columns are the typical age at the start and end of the school year. The last column lists the birth dates that fall into each grade for 2026 to 2027.
| US grade | Age at the start of the year | Age at the end of the year | Birth dates for 2026 to 2027 (September 1 cutoff) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre K | 4 | 5 | Sept 2, 2021 to Sept 1, 2022 |
| Kindergarten | 5 | 6 | Sept 2, 2020 to Sept 1, 2021 |
| 1st grade | 6 | 7 | Sept 2, 2019 to Sept 1, 2020 |
| 2nd grade | 7 | 8 | Sept 2, 2018 to Sept 1, 2019 |
| 3rd grade | 8 | 9 | Sept 2, 2017 to Sept 1, 2018 |
| 4th grade | 9 | 10 | Sept 2, 2016 to Sept 1, 2017 |
| 5th grade | 10 | 11 | Sept 2, 2015 to Sept 1, 2016 |
| 6th grade | 11 | 12 | Sept 2, 2014 to Sept 1, 2015 |
| 7th grade | 12 | 13 | Sept 2, 2013 to Sept 1, 2014 |
| 8th grade | 13 | 14 | Sept 2, 2012 to Sept 1, 2013 |
| 9th grade | 14 | 15 | Sept 2, 2011 to Sept 1, 2012 |
| 10th grade | 15 | 16 | Sept 2, 2010 to Sept 1, 2011 |
| 11th grade | 16 | 17 | Sept 2, 2009 to Sept 1, 2010 |
| 12th grade | 17 | 18 | Sept 2, 2008 to Sept 1, 2009 |
Read the chart from the child's birth date to find the grade, or from the grade to find the age. A child born on October 15, 2016 is 9 at the start of the 2026 to 2027 school year and sits in 4th grade under a September 1 cutoff. In a state with a later cutoff, the same child could be in 5th grade instead.
Kindergarten Cutoff Dates by State
Each state sets the date by which a child must turn 5 to start kindergarten, and most choose a date between August 1 and October 1. September 1 is the most common choice, while several states use earlier or later dates and a few leave the decision to local districts. That single date decides the age by grade placement for the rest of a child's school years.
The cutoff matters most for children born in late summer and early fall. A child born on August 30 may be among the youngest in the class in one state and among the oldest in another. Families moving between states should check the new state's rules before the school year starts.
How states set the cutoff
Youngest and Oldest in the Class
Because of the cutoff, children in the same grade can be almost a full year apart in age. A child born just before the cutoff is the youngest in the class, while one born just after is the oldest. Research on this relative age effect shows small but measurable differences in early school performance and in youth sports selection.
The age by grade gap usually fades in the later grades. Parents worried about a summer birthday can talk with the school about readiness rather than relying on age alone. The age by grade calculator shows exactly where a child falls within their class year.
Who is youngest and oldest, 4th grade 2026 to 2027
- Sep 2, 2016Born on this day: among the oldest in the class
- Mar 1, 2017Born mid year: middle of the class
- Sep 1, 2017Born on this day: among the youngest
US Grades vs Other School Systems
US grades start counting after kindergarten, so 1st grade usually holds 6 to 7 year olds. In England, the equivalent group is Year 2, because the first year of school is called Reception. Many other countries also number their years differently, which is why age is a better guide than grade names when comparing systems.
High school in the US normally runs from 9th to 12th grade, with names such as freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Middle school covers 6th to 8th grade in most districts, though some use 7th to 9th. Elementary school typically runs from kindergarten to 5th grade.
| US grade | Typical age | England | School level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 5 to 6 | Year 1 | Elementary |
| 1st grade | 6 to 7 | Year 2 | Elementary |
| 2nd grade | 7 to 8 | Year 3 | Elementary |
| 3rd grade | 8 to 9 | Year 4 | Elementary |
| 4th grade | 9 to 10 | Year 5 | Elementary |
| 5th grade | 10 to 11 | Year 6 | Elementary |
| 6th grade | 11 to 12 | Year 7 | Middle school |
| 7th grade | 12 to 13 | Year 8 | Middle school |
| 8th grade | 13 to 14 | Year 9 | Middle school |
| 9th grade | 14 to 15 | Year 10 | High school, freshman |
| 10th grade | 15 to 16 | Year 11 | High school, sophomore |
| 11th grade | 16 to 17 | Year 12 | High school, junior |
| 12th grade | 17 to 18 | Year 13 | High school, senior |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are you in 4th grade?
Most 4th graders are 9 at the start of the school year and turn 10 during the year. Exact ages depend on the state cutoff date and the child's birthday. A child born just after the cutoff may already be 10 when the year starts.
How old is a 5th grader?
A 5th grader is usually 10 years old at the start of the school year and 11 by the end. Some children are slightly older or younger depending on their birthday and state. Fifth grade is the last year of elementary school in most districts.
What grade is a 10 year old in?
A 10 year old is most often in 4th or 5th grade. It depends on whether the birthday falls before or after the state's cutoff date. The age by grade chart shows the exact grade for each birth date range.
How old are you in 6th grade?
Sixth graders are usually 11 at the start of the year and 12 by the end. Sixth grade is often the first year of middle school. Some districts keep it in elementary school instead.
How old are you in kindergarten?
Children are typically 5 when kindergarten starts and 6 by the end of the year. Most states require a child to turn 5 by a date between August 1 and October 1. Kindergarten attendance is optional in some states.