School age by birthday
Enter a birthday and select your location to see the current grade, exact age in years and months, kindergarten start year, and a complete year-by-year school timeline through Grade 12.
Select your country and region, then choose the child's date of birth to see their grade and school timeline.
What "school age" means
School age refers to the years during which a child attends compulsory education — typically from kindergarten (age 5 in the US) through Grade 12 (age 17–18). The calculator shows not just the current grade, but the child's exact age in years, months, and days; the year they entered (or will enter) kindergarten; how old they will be on their first day of kindergarten; and every school year from kindergarten through Grade 12 with the age at the start of each grade.
How exact age is calculated
The exact age calculation accounts for leap years. If a child was born February 29, the calculator treats their birthday as March 1 in non-leap years for both age and eligibility purposes — which is the most common legal interpretation across US states. The age shown in years, months, and days is accurate to the current date.
Using the timeline for long-range planning
The K–12 timeline is useful beyond just knowing the current grade. It shows exactly what year your child will be in each grade, which helps with: knowing when to apply for college (Grade 11 spring), when FAFSA opens (the October of Grade 12), which year they will be eligible for a learner's permit and driver's license, when high school sports recruiting typically happens (Grades 9–11), and when standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are typically taken (Grades 10–11).
FAQ
What is school age?
School age typically refers to ages 5–18 in the US — the years spanning kindergarten through Grade 12. The exact start depends on the state kindergarten cutoff date; the end is Grade 12 graduation, typically at age 17 or 18.
How does the calculator handle a February 29 birthday?
The calculator treats February 29 as March 1 in non-leap years for eligibility purposes. This is the most common legal standard. In practice, a leap-day child almost always qualifies for kindergarten in the expected year since most cutoffs fall in summer or fall, after the March 1 effective date.
Can I use this for a child not yet born?
Yes — you can enter any past or future date of birth. If the date is in the future, the calculator will show the kindergarten year the child is on track for. The school timeline will show all projected years from kindergarten through Grade 12.