School Age Calculator
Select your country and state, enter your child's birthday, and instantly see what grade they're in, when they start kindergarten, and their complete school timeline through graduation.
Select your country and region, then choose the child's date of birth to see their grade and school timeline.
What grade is my child in? (US reference table)
This table shows the typical grade level for a US child based on their age in September, assuming a September 1 cutoff. Because the cutoff varies by state, your child's actual grade may differ — use the calculator above with your state's cutoff to get the exact answer.
| Grade | Typical age in September | School stage | UK equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 3–4 | Preschool (optional) | Nursery |
| Kindergarten | 5 | Elementary | Reception (England/Wales) |
| Grade 1 | 6 | Elementary | Year 2 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | Elementary | Year 3 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | Elementary | Year 4 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | Elementary | Year 5 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | Elementary | Year 6 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | Middle School | Year 7 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | Middle School | Year 8 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | Middle School | Year 9 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | High School | Year 10 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | High School | Year 11 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | High School | Year 12 (Lower Sixth) |
| Grade 12 | 17–18 | High School | Year 13 (Upper Sixth) |
What age do children start school?
There is no single answer — it depends entirely on where you live. The US, Canada, Australia, and the UK all handle school starting ages differently, and within each country, individual states and provinces set their own rules. Here's what you actually need to know.
How kindergarten cutoff dates actually work
A cutoff date is the birthday deadline. If your child turns 5 on or before the cutoff, they can start kindergarten that fall. If they turn 5 even one day after it, they wait until the following school year — starting at nearly 6 instead of just turned 5.
This creates a gap of up to a full year in age between the oldest and youngest children in the same kindergarten class. A September 1-cutoff state (most common in the US) means children born in September are the youngest in their year — the child born September 2 is a full year younger than one born September 3 the year before.
Some parents choose to hold their child back voluntarily — called academic redshirting — especially for summer-born children who would be among the youngest in class. Research on the long-term outcomes of redshirting is mixed, but for children born within two months of the cutoff, it's a decision worth discussing with your child's preschool teacher.
More school age calculators
Common questions
What age do kids start kindergarten in the US?
In most US states, a child must turn 5 on or before September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. About a dozen states use a different date — Delaware and Kansas use August 31, Indiana and Ohio use August 1, and Michigan and New York use December 1. The calculator sets the correct cutoff for your state automatically.
What grade is a 7-year-old in?
Most 7-year-olds are in 1st or 2nd grade. A child who turned 7 between September and December is almost certainly in 1st grade. A child who turned 7 in January through August is likely in 2nd grade — unless they were held back or started early. The exact answer depends on your state's cutoff and the child's birthday.
My child was born on September 2. Do they miss the cutoff?
In most states that use September 1, yes — a child born September 2 misses the cutoff and waits until the following fall. They'll be almost 6 on their first day of kindergarten. In states with later cutoffs (November 1, December 1), a September 2 birthday is fine.
What if my child's birthday is on the cutoff date itself?
They're in. A birthday on the cutoff date always counts as "on or before." A child born exactly on September 1 in a September 1 state is eligible to start that fall.
My child was born February 29. How does the leap-day work?
For eligibility purposes, February 29 is treated as March 1 in non-leap years. Since most kindergarten cutoffs fall in late summer or fall, a leap-day child almost always meets the cutoff in the year they turn 5.
What is the difference between Pre-K and kindergarten?
Pre-K is optional and typically serves children aged 3–4. Kindergarten is the first compulsory grade, requiring children to be 5 by the state cutoff. The calculator flags "Pre-school age" when a child is one year out from kindergarten eligibility.
When do children start school in the UK?
In England and Wales, children start Reception — the first year of statutory schooling — in the September after they turn 4. In Scotland, children start Primary 1 in August after turning 4 (with a February 28 cutoff). In Northern Ireland, children start Primary 1 after turning 4, with a July 1 cutoff. Scotland's starting age is effectively 5 in most cases.
How does Australia's school starting age work?
Each state sets its own cutoff. In Victoria and the ACT, children must turn 5 by April 30 to start Prep that January. In NSW, the cutoff is July 31. In Queensland and the NT, it's June 30. Children start Prep (called Foundation in Victoria) and progress through Year 1 to Year 12.
Can I redshirt my child — hold them back a year?
Most US states allow parents to delay kindergarten entry by one year if the child is age-eligible, though policies vary. Some states have mandatory entry ages. Academic redshirting is most common for children born in the months just before the cutoff. Talk to your district for specifics.
What grade is a 10-year-old in?
A 10-year-old is typically in 4th or 5th grade. If they turned 10 between September and December, they're likely in 4th grade. If they turned 10 between January and August, they're probably in 5th. Enter their exact birthday in the calculator to be sure.
Results are estimates based on standard cutoff rules. Policies vary by school district — always confirm directly with your local school before enrollment. Read the methodology for full calculation details.