School Year Calculator
Which school year or grade a child is in from their birthday, UK and US.
About this tool
Choose the school system, enter the child's date of birth and the tool shows their current school year or grade, plus a table of every school year from the first (Reception, P1 or Pre-K) to the last. For the US, pick your state's kindergarten cut-off date. Nothing is stored.
How school year cut-offs work
Children are grouped into school years by a cut-off date, so everyone born in the same 12-month window is in the same class. In England and Wales the year runs from 1 September to 31 August. Children start Reception in the September after they turn four, and Year 1 the following year. A child born on 15 March 2019 started Reception in September 2023 and is in Year 2 in 2025โ26, while a child born on 1 September 2019 is a year behind. In Scotland, children born between 1 March and the end of February start P1 together in August, aged about 4ยฝ to 5ยฝ. Parents of January and February birthdays can choose to defer. In Northern Ireland, children who are four on or before 1 July start P1 that September. In the US, each state sets the kindergarten cut-off, most often that a child must be five by 1 September, though some use dates from August to January. Honest limits: deferred entry, summer-born children who start Reception a year later, children who repeat or skip a year, and private, international or home schooling can all differ from these results. Check with your local council or school district for admissions. The age calculator gives exact ages and the grade calculator works out marks.
Frequently asked questions
What year group is my child in?
In England and Wales, children born 1 September to 31 August share a year group; this tool works it out from the date of birth.
When does a child start Reception in England?
In the September after their fourth birthday. School is compulsory from the term after they turn five.
What is the kindergarten cut-off in the US?
It varies by state. Most often a child must be five by 1 September, but some states use dates between August and January.
Is my data stored?
No. Nothing is saved or sent.