If you have just moved to the United States with children, the first question is usually the same: what grade will my child be in? Here is the full chart by age, how long each stage lasts, what you need to enroll, and what the school can and cannot ask you for.
US school grades by age
There are 3 stages before university. The age shown is the age a student typically starts each grade.
| Grade | Starting age | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 5 to 6 | Elementary school |
| 1st grade | 6 to 7 | Elementary school |
| 2nd grade | 7 to 8 | Elementary school |
| 3rd grade | 8 to 9 | Elementary school |
| 4th grade | 9 to 10 | Elementary school |
| 5th grade | 10 to 11 | Elementary school |
| 6th grade | 11 to 12 | Middle school |
| 7th grade | 12 to 13 | Middle school |
| 8th grade | 13 to 14 | Middle school |
| 9th grade (freshman) | 14 to 15 | High school |
| 10th grade (sophomore) | 15 to 16 | High school |
| 11th grade (junior) | 16 to 17 | High school |
| 12th grade (senior) | 17 to 18 | High school |
How long is each stage?
Elementary school lasts 6 years in most districts, from kindergarten through 5th grade. Middle school lasts 3 years, and high school lasts 4 years.
Some districts run elementary through 6th grade and start middle school in 7th, and a few use a junior high model instead. The stages are set by the district, not nationally, so check how yours is organized.
At what age is school required?
It varies by state. In most states school becomes compulsory between ages 5 and 7, and stays compulsory until 16 or 18 depending on the state.
Kindergarten is required in some states and optional in others. Preschool, or pre-K, is not required anywhere and usually costs money, though many cities run free public programs. Both rules change from state to state, so confirm with your district.
Is school free in the US?
Public school charges no tuition. It is paid for through taxes, which is why the district asks you to prove you live in its area.
There can be other costs: supplies, lunch, activity fees, field trips. Almost every district runs a reduced-price or no-cost lunch program for families who qualify, and most accept applications at any point in the year. Ask at the school office.
Private and international schools charge tuition, and it is substantial. They are a small share of enrollment and are not part of the public system described here.
When does the school year start and end?
It depends on the state, and that is the honest answer: there is no national date.
- Southern states: start in August, end in May
- Central and northern states: start in early September, end in June
The year is split into 2 semesters, fall and spring, with around 180 instructional days in most states, though each state sets its own number. For your exact dates, look for the school calendar on your school district's website. Every district publishes one each year.
There are 3 long breaks:
- Winter break: 2 weeks, from late December into early January
- Spring break: 1 week, usually late March or early April
- Summer break: around 2 and a half months, from late May to late August depending on the region
How to enroll your child
You enroll through the school district where you live, not at any school you choose. You will usually be asked for:
- Proof of address: a lease, a utility bill, or a statement
- Proof of age: a birth certificate or passport
- Immunization records, up to date
- Records from the previous school, if you have them
- An enrollment form and an emergency contact
Your child can enroll regardless of immigration status
This is what worries newly arrived families most, so it is worth saying plainly.
Public schools cannot refuse to enroll a child because of the child's or the parents' immigration status. The Supreme Court established this in 1982 in Plyler v. Doe, and the US Department of Education confirms it: all children have an equal right to enroll in public elementary and secondary schools.
Schools also cannot require a Social Security number to enroll your child. The Department of Justice has investigated districts that asked for one, because doing so discourages immigrant families from enrolling.
If a school asks for immigration documents or a Social Security number as a condition of enrollment, that is not a legal requirement. Every situation is different, so if this happens to you, a legal aid organization in your area can help.
How grading works
Students are graded with letters from A to F, matched to a percentage:
- A: 90 to 100%, excellent
- B: 80 to 89%, good
- C: 70 to 79%, average
- D: 60 to 69%, pass
- F: below 60%, fail
High school students also get a GPA, or grade point average, on a 0 to 4 scale. It is the number universities look at most closely, and it starts counting from 9th grade.
What a school day looks like
Classes start between 7am and 8am and finish between 2pm and 3pm. Elementary students are in school for roughly 6 to 7 hours a day, and middle and high school students slightly longer. Everyone gets 30 to 45 minutes for lunch, and younger students get recess.
School bus transport is provided by the district, usually only if you live far from the school or the walk is unsafe. Most public schools have no uniform, though there is a dress code.
Extracurricular activities like sports, band and theater are a significant part of the experience and many universities take them into account. They run after the school day and sometimes carry a small fee.
After high school
University admission looks at a student's graduating GPA, the courses they took, and in some cases a standardized test: the SAT or the ACT.
There is an important change here that many people are not aware of: most universities no longer require the SAT or ACT. More than 90% of ranked four-year colleges remain test-optional for the 2026 admissions cycle, meaning the student chooses whether to submit a score.
That said, a number of highly selective universities have reinstated the requirement in recent years, among them Harvard, MIT, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, Caltech and Georgia Tech. Each university sets its own rule and the rules change from year to year, so check each admissions page before deciding.
Public universities charge 2 different prices: in-state tuition for residents of the state and out-of-state tuition for everyone else, which is considerably higher. Studying in the state where you live costs less.
There are also community colleges, offering 2-year programs at much lower cost. Many students start there and transfer their credits to a four-year university afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
What are the school grades in the US?
They run from kindergarten to 12th grade in 3 stages: elementary school (kindergarten to 5th), middle school (6th to 8th) and high school (9th to 12th). University comes after and is not required.
What grade is my child in based on age?
As a rule of thumb, subtract 5 from your child's age and that is their grade. A 10-year-old starts 5th grade; a 14-year-old starts 9th. The school confirms the grade using their age and records from their previous school.
How long is elementary school in America?
6 years in most districts, from kindergarten through 5th grade. Some districts include 6th grade, making it 7.
Is school free in the US?
Public school charges no tuition. There can be costs for supplies, lunch, and activities, and most districts run reduced-price or no-cost lunch programs for families who qualify.
Can I enroll my child without immigration documents?
Yes. Public schools cannot deny enrollment based on the immigration status of the child or the parents, and cannot require a Social Security number. They will ask for proof of address, proof of age, and immunization records.
Does my child need the SAT to apply to university?
In most cases, no. More than 90% of ranked four-year colleges are test-optional for the 2026 cycle. Some highly selective universities do require it, so check each one's requirements.
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