Question: how old do you have to be to go to high school in america
Answer: General level ( or category ) Level Student age range ( at the beginning of academic year ) Preschool Pre-kindergarten 3 -- 5 Compulsory education Elementary school Kindergarten 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 Junior high school 7th grade 12 -- 13 8th grade 13 -- 14 High school Freshman / 9th grade 14 -- 15 Senior high school Sophomore / 10th grade 15 -- 16 Junior / 11th grade 16 -- 17 Senior / 12th grade 17 -- 18 Higher education College ( University ) Undergraduate school First year : `` Freshman year '' 18 - 19 Second year : `` Sophomore year '' 19 - 20 Third year : `` Junior year '' 20 - 21 Fourth year : `` Senior year '' 21 - 22 Graduate school ( with various degrees and curricular partitions thereof ) Ages vary Continuing education Vocational school Ages vary Adu