It can be tricky to pinpoint someone’s age by grade level alone. Although everybody attends school, it’s easy to forget which ages go with which grades. To make this easier on you, I have compiled all of this information in one easy-to-follow table.
This table lists the average age by grade level:School Year Standard Age Range Pre-School 3-5 years old Kindergarten 5-6 years old 1st Grade 6-7 years old 2nd Grade 7-8 years old 3rd Grade 8-9 years old 4th Grade 9-10 years old 5th Grade 10-11 years old 6th Grade 11-12 years old 7th Grade 12-13 years old 8th Grade 13-14 years old 9th Grade 14-15 years old 10th Grade 15-16 years old 11th Grade 16-17 years old 12th Grade 17-18 years old 13th Grade 18-19 years old 14th Grade 19-20 years old 15th Grade 20-21 years old 16th Grade 21-22 years old
Of course, the age groupings for each grade level are not always so cut and dry as to how the table depicts. Sometimes, particular circumstances result in a student being younger or older than the rest of their class. Below, we will discuss such possibilities. We will also address the birthday cut-offs that govern the age groupings for each grade level.

Average Age by Grade Level
Schools group students into the same grade level based on age in the American education system. In other words, students in the same grade level are relatively within one or two years of age of each other. This registration process explains why the age groupings are the way they are in the table above.
You can also roughly estimate a student’s age by what school institution they attend. This estimate may not be as accurate as one formed from a student’s grade level, but it can still prove helpful nonetheless.
Average Age by School Division
School Division | School Years Included | Standard Age Range |
Pre-School | Pre-K | 3-5 years old |
Elementary School | Grades K-5 | 5-11 years old |
Middle School | Grades 6-8 | 11-14 years old |
High School | Grades 9-12 | 14-18 years old |
College | Grades 13-16 | 18-22 years old |
Birthday Cut-Offs for Grade Levels

Schools use students’ birthdays as the primary means of structuring grade levels. This sorting process begins when students begin their education at the kindergarten level. Here, schools institute specific birthday cut-offs to separate students by grade level.
With these birthday cut-offs, students must be five years old to begin school on or before that specific date. However, parents cannot wait to enroll their children into school though, as schools have compulsory attendance laws for students once they reach a certain age.
The birthday cut-offs and compulsory ages for school attendance vary by state. Thus, there are slight discrepancies in each state’s age groupings per grade level.
This lack of universal dates and laws can make it confusing for parents to know when to enroll their children in school. However, it also gives parents some flexibility on how old they want their child to be relative to the rest of their class. As a result, their child may end up being slightly younger or slightly older than the rest of their classmates, depending on how early their parents decide to enroll them into school.
If you’re curious as to what the birthday cut-off and compulsory age for school attendance are for your state, refer to the following table (source):
State | Kindergarten Entrance Age | Compulsory School Age |
Alabama | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Alaska | 5 on or before 9/1 | 7 |
Arizona | 5 on or before 8/31 | 6 |
Arkansas | 5 on or before 8/1 | 5 |
California | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Colorado | 5 on or before 10/1 | 6 |
Connecticut | 5 on or before 1/1 | 5 |
Delaware | 5 on or before 8/31 | 5 |
District of Columbia | 5 on or before 9/30 | 5 |
Florida | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Georgia | 5 by 9/1 | 6 |
Hawaii | 5 on or before 7/31 | 5 |
Idaho | 5 on or before 9/1 | 7 |
Illinois | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Indiana | 5 on or before 8/1 | 7 |
Iowa | 5 by 9/15 | 6 |
Kansas | 5 on or before 8/31 | 7 |
Kentucky | 5 on or before 7/31 | 6 |
Louisiana | 5 by 9/30 | 7 |
Maine | 5 on or before 10/15 | 6 |
Maryland | 5 by 9/1 | 5 |
Massachusetts | Determined by the school district | 6 |
Michigan | 5 by 9/1 | 6 |
Minnesota | 5 on or before 9/1 | 7 |
Mississippi | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Missouri | 5 on or before 7/31 | 7 |
Montana | 5 on or before 9/10 | 7 |
Nebraska | 5 on or before 9/30 | 6 |
Nevada | 5 on or before 9/30 | 7 |
New Hampshire | Not specified in statute or regulation | 6 |
New Jersey | Local education agency option | 6 |
New Mexico | 5 on or before 9/1 | 5 |
New York | Local education agency option | 6 |
North Carolina | 5 on or before 8/31 | 7 |
North Dakota | 5 on or before 7/31 | 7 |
Ohio | Local education agency option | 6 |
Oklahoma | 5 on or before 9/1 | 5 |
Oregon | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Pennsylvania | Local education agency option | 6 |
Rhode Island | 5 on or before 9/1 | 5 |
South Carolina | 5 on or before 9/1 | 5 |
South Dakota | 5 on or before 9/1 | 5 |
Tennessee | 5 on or before 8/15 | 6 |
Texas | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Utah | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Vermont | 5 | 6 |
Virginia | 5 on or before 9/30 | 5 |
Washington | 5 on or before 8/31 | 8 |
West Virginia | 5 on or before 8/31 | 6 |
Wisconsin | 5 on or before 9/1 | 6 |
Wyoming | 5 on or before 9/15 | 7 |
*The information listed above comes from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Can Students Be Younger than their Grade’s Average Age?
As aforementioned, there are particular circumstances where a student may be slightly younger than their classmates beyond the standard variation.
Grade Skipping
Although it’s somewhat rare, some students are so academically gifted that they are provided with the opportunity to accelerate past a grade, either partially or entirely. The purpose of this is to enable exceptionally talented students to learn a curriculum befitting their intellectual level. Of course, any student who skips ahead a grade is younger than the rest of their classmates. If a student skips several grade levels, this age gap can get significant.
Graduating Early
Another potential circumstance where a student may be younger than the rest of their class is graduating from high school early. It can be very challenging for students to complete all of the high school graduation prerequisites a full-year ahead of their classmates, but it is possible. Often, students must take on a hefty course load, along with the summer classes, to graduate early. Furthermore, these students must collaborate with their guidance counselor to work out the specifics of such a complex four-year plan.
However, if these students immediately move onto college, they will be a full year younger than the typical incoming first-year college student. This can be an appealing prospect for some, as it allows them to graduate college and enter the workforce at a younger age.
Can Students Be Older than their Grade’s Average Age?
It’s a relatively rare phenomenon for a student to be significantly younger than the rest of their class. But, conversely, it’s more common for a student to be considerably older than the rest of their classmates, particularly in the latter years of education. There are several reasons for this, which we will outline below.
Gap Year(s)
Many students elect to take a gap year after high school before moving to college. Students take time off school to work on their personal development during this gap year. Popular gap year activities include:
- internships (paid or unpaid)
- job or work experience
- skill development
- travel
- volunteering activities
However, once gap-year students rejoin school, they cannot return to the same grade level. If they were to do so, they would be a semester or year behind their classmates. Instead, students must rejoin a younger class to make up the academic year they devoted to their gap year. As a result, gap-year students are often slightly older than their classmates. The more gap years they elect to take, the older they will be relative to the rest of their classmates upon their return to school.
Grade Retention
If students fail to meet the academic standards set by their instructors, they may need to repeat their current grade level until they meet such criteria. This process is called grade retention or “being held back.” The purpose of grade retention is to keep students from progressing their education prematurely. Instructors utilize grade retention for the good of both the student and the parents.
When instructors hold a student back, they do not hold their classmates back with them. Instead, the student must repeat the grade with a new, younger class. Consequently, the held-back student will be slightly older than their new classmates. Therefore, the more years a student must repeat, the older they will be relative to their classmates.
If you would like to learn more about grade retention, read through What Happens If You Get Held Back (Simple Explanation).
Adults Who Go Back to School

Another scenario that can result in a student being older than the rest of their class is if an adult decides to go back to school. It is has become increasingly popular for adults to return to school after a prolonged hiatus to further their education and earn a degree. It’s never too late to go back to school. However, these adults often find that they’re older than their classmates upon returning to school.
Additional Semester(s)
Lastly, some students opt to prolong their high school or college experience by signing up for additional semesters. Students often choose to lighten their average semester course load and make their schedules more manageable. This option is only becoming more common, as recent studies have shown that the average college student completes their bachelor’s degree in 5.1 years (source).
Students currently enrolled in semesters beyond the standard four-year plan are often slightly older than their classmates. So, again, the longer a student stays in school, the older they will be relative to their classmates.
If you’re interested in this topic and would like to learn more, click over to How Long is Too Long in College? (Here’s What to Know).
(Video) 21 [Advanced] Ways To Learn Faster with Memory Techniques
FAQs
Should a kindergartener be able to read? ›
What they will learn. By the end of kindergarten, your child will recognize, name, and write all 26 letters of the alphabet (both uppercase and lowercase). They'll know the correct sound that each letter makes, and they'll be able to read about 30 high-frequency words—also called "sight words"—such as and, the, and in.
What should 1st graders be able to read? ›Reading in First Grade
While classroom experience can vary depending on where students live, whether they attend public or private schools and other factors, education experts say first graders should be able to read at least 150 high-frequency words by the end of the year.
Experts say that most children learn to read by age 6 or 7, meaning first or second grade, and that some learn much earlier. However, a head start on reading doesn't guarantee a child will stay ahead as they progress through school. Abilities tend to even out in later grades.
Is 7 too old for first grade? ›A child should be seven years of age for much of first grade. If her birthday is in the winter she should turn 7 in first grade, thus having half the year as a 6 year-old and half as a 7 year-old. One does not want a child turning 8 in first grade.
What level should a 7 year old be reading? ›Most seven-year-old children are reading at a level in line with their grades in school. Most seven-year-old children are in first or second grade, so those in first grade should read at a first-grade level, and those in second grade should read at a second-grade level.
What level should a kindergartner be reading at? ›In kindergarten, many children begin at guided reading Level A and work up to Level D. Books at these levels feature plenty of pictures for support, repetitive sentences and words, limited text, and large font. If your child is not ready for independent reading, be sure to still fit in plenty of family read-aloud time.
What age should a child read fluently? ›Reading fluency occurs when a child has developed the knowledge and skills to recognize words automatically, accurately and quickly. This usually develops at ages 7 to 8.
What percent of kindergarten can read? ›Two percent of pupils (1in 50) begin kindergarten able to read simple sight words, and 1 percent are also able to read more complex words in sentences. These children already know how to read.
Is it normal for a 1st grader to not be able to read? ›It's still fairly common in grade one, and even into grade two, but look at it more closely if you get past age eight, says Truch: “Children who struggle with reading have more reversals for greater lengths of time, sometimes even into adulthood.” Forgetting word spelling in previously mastered words in early ...
Why is my 7 year old struggling with reading? ›Children may struggle with reading for a variety of reasons, including limited experience with books, speech and hearing problems, and poor phonemic awareness.
Do most kids know how do you read in kindergarten? ›
Most kids learn to read between the ages of 4-7 and some do not until age 8. If kids don't learn to read in Kindergarten, they're not behind. They don't have a learning disability, although some may. They just may not be ready to or interested in reading yet.
What level of reading is a 6 year old? ›By the time many children enter 1st grade (usually between 6 and 7 years old), they're able to "decode" what they see on the page. Children in the intermediate stage of reading can pair letters with sounds and match up spoken words with their written counterparts.
Is 7 years old too old for kindergarten? ›Pursuant to EC 48000(a), a child is eligible for kindergarten if the child will have his or her fifth birthday by September 1.
Can an 8 year old be in 1st grade? ›Children are required to be enrolled in 1st Grade when they are 6 years of age, or as long as they turn 6 before the cutoff date of September 1st.
What grade are most 7 year olds in? ›Student Age (as of September 1, 2023) | American Grade Equivalent |
---|---|
10 years old | Grade 5 |
9 years old | Grade 4 |
8 years old | Grade 3 |
7 years old | Grade 2 |
While most children have "learned to read" by age seven, they are still building confidence in their fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills as they grow into strong readers. Create a playful reading atmosphere at home by encouraging your child's curiosity about books and the world around them.
How well can the average 7 year old read? ›For kids in grades 1 to 6, their average reading speed falls between 80 words and 185 words per minute. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can read between 115 words per minute and 185 words per minute.
What reading level is Harry Potter? ›The Harry Potter book series is Middle Grade, not YA (Young Adult). This means it is generally written for children ages 8-12 and grade levels 3-7.
What reading level should a 5th grader be at? ›On average, reading levels for a fifth-grader range between 22 to 30+ on Reading Recovery and 50 on D.R.A. levels. But that can vary from child to child. Thus, teachers should use a 1:1 approach to assess the accurate reading level.
How many books should a child read by kindergarten? ›For kids in kindergarten and younger, the recommendation is to read five books to your child a day. By reading five books a day, it's thought that they'll have heard one million more words than a child who was never read to by the time they're 5.
What is level B reading in kindergarten? ›
LEVEL B BOOKS are written for very beginning readers. The stories usually have just one or two simple sentences, spread across two lines, and illustrations that match very closely to the print. The illustrations are simple and clear and support the beginning reader to successfully anticipate what the story is about.
What are three signs that a child is reading fluently? ›produce words that rhyme. match some spoken and written words. write some letters, numbers, and words. recognize some familiar words in print.
Do all gifted children read early? ›Many gifted children learn to read early, and as much as this may be a sign of giftedness, it is not always so. Some of the children who are hyperlexic, do learn to read very early, but because they have little or no comprehension are not termed gifted readers (Jackson, Donaldson, & Cleland, 1988).
Should a 5 year old read fluently? ›A 5 year old should be able to read a few sight words as well. Usually, kids learn common words like the, come, some, many, from, of, where, were…etc. before learning lesser common sight words like build, beautiful, group, thought… etc. For kindergarten level books, visit our shop.
What percentage of kids learn to read easily? ›Researchers now estimate that 95 percent of all children can be taught to read by the end of first grade, with future achievement constrained* only by students' reasoning and listening comprehension abilities.
What reading level is 2nd grade? ›A 2nd grader should be at a DRA level of 28-38. This is the expected range for reading fluency and comprehension in this grade level. At this stage, children are beginning to read longer texts with more complex sentence structures and can comprehend multiple ideas within one text.
What is Hyperlexic? ›Hyperlexia is advanced and unexpected reading skills and abilities in children way beyond their chronological age. It is a fairly recently named condition (1967) although earlier descriptions of precocious reading do exist.
What percentage of children struggle with reading? ›On average, 25% (typically ranging between 20% and 30%) of schoolchildren in the early grades struggle with reading. The actual percentages vary widely, depending on the individual characteristics of the students and the quality of instruction in each school.
What are the signs of reading problems? ›- Problems sounding out words.
- Difficulty recognizing sounds and the letters that make up those sounds.
- Poor spelling.
- Slow reading.
- Problems reading out loud with correct expression.
- Problems understanding what was just read.
They could be having actual physical issues such as vision or auditory problems that are making it difficult for them to learn to read. A learning disability such as dyslexia might also be an issue or they could be struggling with their concentration.
What are the signs of dyslexia in a 7 year old? ›
- Slow reading progress.
- Finds it difficult to blend letters together.
- Has difficulty in establishing syllable division or knowing the beginnings and endings of words.
- Unusual pronunciation of words.
- No expression in reading, and poor comprehension.
- Hesitant and laboured reading, especially when reading aloud.
ADHD can make it harder to learn how to read, and it can also make it harder to acquire new information through reading. Here are some of the typical ways that ADHD symptoms interfere with reading: Poor focus or difficulty with sustained attention.
Why can my child read but not comprehend? ›Some major causes of poor reading ability are difficult text, ADHD, dyslexia, limited vocabulary, working memory deficit, and more. People may also have trouble with comprehension due to boredom or disinterest in what they are reading.
What should a 7 year old know academically? ›- Addition and subtraction problems of two-digit numbers without regrouping.
- Number sentences with equalities and inequalities using the symbols <, =, >
- The perimeter of squares and rectangles by adding lengths of sides.
Be able to count up to 100 and count a few numbers backwards. Be able to do some basic maths such as adding '1 apple to 2 apples makes 3 apples' and will be able to tell when numbers are higher than other number. Be able to give their full name and know their age, birthday and where they live.
Should an 8 year old be able to read? ›While most children have "learned to read" by age eight, they are still building confidence in their fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills as they grow into strong readers. Create a playful reading atmosphere at home by encouraging your child's curiosity about books and the world around them.
What can an average 6 year old read? ›What is a 6 year old reading level in early kindergarten? A 6 year old reading level is broad. However, in general, at the age of 6, most kids are starting to string letter sounds together to read short vowel words.
Can a 6 year old read fluently? ›While children may be able to decode the words they read on a page, this is still different to reading fluency. Reading fluency occurs when a child has developed the knowledge and skills to recognise words automatically, accurately and quickly. This usually develops at ages 7 to 8.
What level of reading is a 8 year old? ›Elementary Level: Children ages 8 to 12, or 4th through 6th grades. These children read sentences of approximately 10 words, with the maximum number of words being 20. Most books written at this level range between 20,000 and 40,000 words.
Is it better to be the oldest kid in kindergarten or the youngest? ›Studies show that older students often outperform their younger peers in the early years, but the older kids typically lose their advantage in the long run. In fact, some research shows that the younger students who have to strive to keep up with the older kids ultimately become more successful.
Where should a 7 year old be developmentally? ›
Developmental Milestones
By this time, children can dress themselves, catch a ball more easily using only their hands, and tie their shoes. Having independence from family becomes more important now. Events such as starting school bring children this age into regular contact with the larger world.
If you don't think your child is ready, you can apply for permission to wait a year. If you do choose to wait, use that time to help your child develop the skills they need so they can be ready for kindergarten next year. You can do this at home, in a preschool or with a play group.
Is it better to start kindergarten at 5 or 6? ›At the kindergarten level, older students (the ones who start closer to 6) do tend to do better than the younger students. Over time this will, of course, balance out. As for long term schooling, there are definitely differences between being the oldest and the youngest in your grade.
Do kids repeat 1st grade? ›Is there a law or policy regarding the number of times a student can be retained? There is nothing in the EC that prohibits school districts from retaining a child in more than one grade.
How old can a 1st grader be? ›Children registering for 1st grade must turn 6 years old on or before September 1st.
How old is Grade 7 in America? ›GRADE | AGE APPROPRIATE | 2022 – 2023 |
---|---|---|
Grade 7 | Age 12 – 13 | Sept 2009 – Aug 2010 |
Grade 8 | Age 13 – 14 | Sept 2008 – Aug 2009 |
Grade 9 | Age 14 – 15 | Sept 2007 – Aug 2008 |
Grade 10 | Age 15 – 16 | Sept 2006 – Aug 2007 |
First grade (also 1st Grade or Grade 1) is the first year of formal or compulsory education. It is the first year of elementary school, and the first school year after kindergarten. Children in first grade are usually 6-7 years old.
How old is a 5th grader in USA? ›In the United States, the fifth grade is typically the fifth and final year of primary school, though it may be the first year of middle school. Students in fifth grade are usually 10-11 years old.
What percentage of kindergarteners can read? ›Two percent of pupils (1in 50) begin kindergarten able to read simple sight words, and 1 percent are also able to read more complex words in sentences. These children already know how to read.
Why can't my kindergartener read? ›Children may struggle with reading for a variety of reasons, including limited experience with books, speech and hearing problems, and poor phonemic awareness.
Should a child be reading by age 5? ›
Age five is a key year for supporting your child's reading skills. At this age, kids begin to identify letters, match letters to sounds and recognize the beginning and ending sounds of words. They'll start to have a basic grasp on the idea that words in a book are read left-to-right and top-to-bottom.
What level of reading should a 6 year old be on? ›Level 7. Recommended reading age 6 - 7 years. Children can read complex sentences fairly fluently, taking note of punctuation. They use expression and do not rely on illustrations to help them.
What should kids be able to read by end of kindergarten? ›By the end of the year, a kindergartner should be reading books on a variety of top- ics and other written materials (e.g. menus, posters, magazines, etc.) on a kindergarten-level. Your child is expected to choose what they are reading and read for longer periods of time as the year goes on.
Is it normal for a 6 year old to not read? ›Most kids learn to read between the ages of 4-7 and some do not until age 8. If kids don't learn to read in Kindergarten, they're not behind. They don't have a learning disability, although some may. They just may not be ready to or interested in reading yet.
Should 6 year olds be able to read? ›At age 6, most first-graders can: Read and retell familiar stories. Use a variety of ways to help with reading a story such as re-reading, predicting what will happen, asking questions, or using visual cues or pictures. Decide on their own to use reading and writing for different purposes.
How do you help a struggling kindergarten reader? ›- SCAFFOLD. For any struggling reading, achieve success is key. ...
- BE INCLUSIVE. ...
- ALLOW PREPARATION OF ORAL READING. ...
- EXPLORE CHILDREN'S INTERESTS. ...
- USE CLOZE ACTIVITIES. ...
- USE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT. ...
- USE SHARED READING.
Be able to count up to 100 and count a few numbers backwards. Be able to do some basic maths such as adding '1 apple to 2 apples makes 3 apples' and will be able to tell when numbers are higher than other number. Be able to give their full name and know their age, birthday and where they live.
What a 5 year old should know academically? ›- Counts to 10. ...
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them. ...
- Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night” ...
- Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. ...
- Writes some letters in her name.
Kindergarten is where most children learn to read and write. Though some kids can do this before entering kindergarten, it is not required or expected. Being ready for kindergarten means having well-developed preschool skills, and being academically, socially, and physically ready for the transition.
What are the signs of gifted child? ›- Ability to comprehend material several grade levels above their age peers.
- Surprising emotional depth and sensitivity at a young age.
- Strong sense of curiosity.
- Enthusiastic about unique interests and topics.
- Quirky or mature sense of humor.
Do gifted kids read early? ›
Gifted and highly gifted children can usually recognize common signs and words before they are three years old, some as early as two years, and many of these children in the higher Levels of Gifted move from reading simple children's books by age four or five to reading anything that interests them by age six (usually ...
Are all gifted kids early readers? ›Many gifted children learn to read early, and as much as this may be a sign of giftedness, it is not always so. Some of the children who are hyperlexic, do learn to read very early, but because they have little or no comprehension are not termed gifted readers (Jackson, Donaldson, & Cleland, 1988).