Pre-school can begin as early as age 2.

“Moms and Tots” – age 2 / 3

Preschool – 3/4

Preschool -4/5

*If children have a birthday in the summer months, they are often encouraged to go to a “T-Class” (Transition Class) before they begin Kindergarten. If a child attends the T-Class, his or her age would be a year older than the ages I have on my list below.l

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Primary School)

Kindergarten (or T-Class) 5/6

1st grade- 6/7

2nd grade – 7/8

3rd grade – 8/9

4th grade – 9/10

5th grade – 10/11

MIDDLE SCHOOL

6th grade – 11/12

7th grade – 12/13

8th grade – 13/14

HIGH SCHOOL (Secondary School)

9th grade – 14/15

10th grade 15/16

11th grade 16/17

12th grade 17/18

This is the way the grades are set up in many schools. However, this varies. I teach in a district like the one I described. My own children attend a district which is set up differently. They have elementary school from kindergarten through 4th grade. Then they go to a middle school from grades 5 to 6. Then they attend a different middle school for 7th and 8th grades. Finally, they attend high school for grades 9 through 12.

Preschool is not mandatory, but many children attend preschool for at least one year. Most children attend preschool for more than one year.

Our children take too many tests in my opinion. They use the tests to check the student’s progress, but also to check the progress of the schools. There are different statewide tests. For example, in Pennyslvania, the children take the “PSSA” in grades 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11. They have been adding more grades each year. (They may even be testing more grades than that already.)

Once children graduate from high school, many go on to college.