Graduation Year Calculator
Welcome to our graduation year calculator, an easy-to-use tool to help you answer this simple question: What year will I graduate high school?
Knowing your graduation year can be helpful when planning your future goals, and that's where our graduation year calculator comes in handy. Keep reading and discover:
- How high school graduation works in the United States;
- How long high school lasts;
- How to calculate graduation year accurately; and
- How to use our what year did I graduate high school calculator.
💡 Before we dive into the subject of high school graduation years, you may also want to explore our High school GPA calculator to better understand how grades factor into your academic journey.
How to use our graduation year calculator
Our graduation year calculator is a straightforward tool that helps answer a common question: What year will I graduate high school? The calculator follows the US education system, where school usually starts in the fall and ends in late spring or early summer. Moreover, the what year did I graduate high school calculator assumes a steady grade progression (it doesn’t account for skipping or repeating years).
To use our high school graduation year calculator, simply follow these steps:
- Select the starting grade (from
KindergartenthroughTwelfth grade). - Choose the school year when you begin.
- That’s it! Your estimated high school graduation year will appear instantly.
Our back-to-school calculator may interest you, give it a try!
How to calculate graduation year in the US education system
To calculate graduation year in the US education system, you only need two things:
- The grade a student starts in; and
- The school year when that grade begins.
In the United States, students typically complete 12 grades after kindergarten, and high school usually spans four years, from 9th through 12th grade.
For example, if your child starts third grade in fall 2029, there are ten school years left before graduation. That means they would graduate in the Class of 2039.
To avoid doing this mental gymnastics, use our year graduation calculator.
How many years is high school?
A common question is: How many years is high school?
In the US, high school lasts four years:
- 9th grade: Freshman year;
- 10th grade: Sophomore year;
- 11th grade: Junior year; and
- 12th grade: Senior year.
These four years of high school prepare students to graduate, enter college, or join the workforce. Some students may graduate earlier, while others take longer, but four years is the standard length of time.
For a more comprehensive overview, the "Guide to School Years and Levels of Education in the United States" provides an overview of the entire American education system, from early childhood to high school graduation.
Understanding high school years and grade levels
The US education system is divided into stages:
- Primary education (elementary school);
- Secondary education (middle school and high school); and
- Post-secondary education (college and beyond).
Students earn credits based on the courses they take, measured in Carnegie units. Each state sets its own rules for graduation. However, most require between 20 and 24 credits in subjects such as math, English, science, and history.
Interested in knowing more? Check out our two related calculators: test grade and semester grade calculators.
Australian grades to US: How do they compare?
Many international families ask for information about Australian grades for comparison purposes with those in the US. Although the systems differ, here is a simple overview:
- Australian Year 10 ≈ U.S. 10th grade;
- Australian Year 11 ≈ U.S. 11th grade; and
- Australian Year 12 ≈ U.S. 12th grade.
If you’re comparing international school systems more broadly, our article “UK to US School Years: School System Equivalences” explains how British year levels align with US grades.
FAQs
How do I calculate graduation year?
To calculate your graduation year in the US education system:
- Start with the grade you are in now (kindergarten, 3rd grade, 9th grade, etc.).
- Note the year that school starts (use the fall year).
- Count how many grades are left until 12th grade.
- Add those years to your starting year to find your graduation year.
- That’s it. If you want to avoid counting altogether, a graduation year calculator will give you the answer instantly.
What year did John Roberts graduate high school?
John G. Roberts Jr., the Chief Justice of the United States, graduated from high school in 1973 as class valedictorian, becoming the first graduate of the La Lumiere School to enroll at Harvard University.
How long is the average high school year?
The school year generally lasts about nine months (from August or September to May or June) and is divided into trimesters or semesters. These months make up one of four standard high school years: freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, and senior year.
How old is a 6th grader in the US?
Students are usually between 11 and 12 years old. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. It is most often the first year of middle school, although in some school districts it may be the last year of elementary school.