What grade is a 14-year-old in?
A 14-year-old is in Grade 8 (last year of middle school) or Grade 9 (Freshman year of high school). In a September 1 state: January–August birthdays → Grade 9; September–December birthdays → Grade 8.
Select your country and region, then choose the child's date of birth to see their grade and school timeline.
Grade 9: Freshman year — when the high school transcript starts
Grade 9 is the first year of high school and the first year that grades count toward the permanent transcript used in college applications. Freshman year GPA carries significant weight because it sets the trajectory of the four-year record. Students choose electives, explore extracurriculars, and — in many states — can apply for a learner's driving permit at age 15, which typically falls in Freshman or Sophomore year. High school is also when state graduation requirements (credit counts in English, math, science, social studies, PE) begin to accumulate.
FAQ
What grade is a 14-year-old in?
A 14-year-old is in Grade 8 or Grade 9. In most US states (September 1 cutoff): January–August birthdays → Grade 9 (Freshman); September–December birthdays → Grade 8 (last year of middle school).
What is a Freshman?
Freshman is the informal name for a Grade 9 student — the first year of high school. Grades in high school are called Freshman (9), Sophomore (10), Junior (11), and Senior (12).