US education system

[Alexa]

Hey US ADBBers

I am doing some research on alcohol prevention programmes for my work and a lot of it is based in the US.

I was wondering if anyone could explain to me how the school grade system works? What age is a child in grade 1, 2, etc?

[julirama723]

Re: US education system

Different schools have different "cut-off" points based on birthdays. For example, where I went to school, I was 6 in first grade--most people were--though I had friends who were 7 for part of the year. One of my friends was 5 when she first entered 1st grade, but had her birthday in September, and then was 6 for the majority of the school year. Where my boyfriend went to school, most people were 7 in first grade.

1st grade--age 6 or 7
2nd--age 7 or 8
3rd--age 8 or 9...and so on.

Our grading system actually starts with Kindergarten, which is age 5 or 6, and continues up to grade 12.

Kindergarten through 5th grade (or sometimes 6th) is considered elementary school. 6-8th grade is called one of three things that are all basically the same thing: Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School. Grades 9-12 are High School.

[Alexa]

Re: US education system

Thanks so much Julie! Very full definition which will be really useful