Grade Placement by Age

RD American School is an American school of distinction in Singapore and a partner school of New York’s Riverdale Country School. RDAS enrolls students in Grades 1 through 8 and places each child by age on September 1. High School, Grades 9 through 12, opens in August 2027. The chart on this page covers the full American grade system, Kindergarten through Grade 12, as a reference for every age.

Find Your Child’s Grade

School year of entry

Enter a date of birth to see the matching grade.

Grade Placement Chart

Find your child’s date of birth in the column for the school year of entry. Ages are counted on September 1 of that year.

Date ranges include both the first and last day shown.
GradeAge on September 1Date of birth for 2026–2027 entryDate of birth for 2027–2028 entry
KindergartenFor reference. RDAS enrollment begins in Grade 1.
Kindergarten5 yearsSep 2, 2020 – Sep 1, 2021Sep 2, 2021 – Sep 1, 2022
Elementary SchoolGrades 1 to 5
Grade 16 yearsSep 2, 2019 – Sep 1, 2020Sep 2, 2020 – Sep 1, 2021
Grade 27 yearsSep 2, 2018 – Sep 1, 2019Sep 2, 2019 – Sep 1, 2020
Grade 38 yearsSep 2, 2017 – Sep 1, 2018Sep 2, 2018 – Sep 1, 2019
Grade 49 yearsSep 2, 2016 – Sep 1, 2017Sep 2, 2017 – Sep 1, 2018
Grade 510 yearsSep 2, 2015 – Sep 1, 2016Sep 2, 2016 – Sep 1, 2017
Middle SchoolGrades 6 to 8
Grade 611 yearsSep 2, 2014 – Sep 1, 2015Sep 2, 2015 – Sep 1, 2016
Grade 712 yearsSep 2, 2013 – Sep 1, 2014Sep 2, 2014 – Sep 1, 2015
Grade 813 yearsSep 2, 2012 – Sep 1, 2013Sep 2, 2013 – Sep 1, 2014
High SchoolGrades 9 to 12, opening August 2027
Grade 914 yearsSep 2, 2011 – Sep 1, 2012Sep 2, 2012 – Sep 1, 2013
Grade 1015 yearsSep 2, 2010 – Sep 1, 2011Sep 2, 2011 – Sep 1, 2012
Grade 1116 yearsSep 2, 2009 – Sep 1, 2010Sep 2, 2010 – Sep 1, 2011
Grade 1217 yearsSep 2, 2008 – Sep 1, 2009Sep 2, 2009 – Sep 1, 2010

Common Questions

My child’s birthday is close to September 1. Which grade applies?

The cutoff is September 1 itself. A child whose birthday falls on or before September 1 joins the older class, and a child born on September 2 or later joins the younger one. For example, a child who turns 7 on September 15, 2026, is 6 on September 1. That child is age-eligible for Grade 1 in 2026–2027 and for Grade 2 in 2027–2028.

What grade is a 7-year-old in at an American school?

Grade 2, when the child is 7 on September 1. An 8-year-old is in Grade 3, and a 10-year-old is in Grade 5, the final year of Elementary School. Middle School runs from Grade 6 at age 11 to Grade 8 at age 13, and High School from Grade 9 at age 14 to Grade 12 at age 17.

Our current school uses Year levels. How do they compare with American grades?

RDAS uses American grades: a child who is 7 at the start of the school year is in Grade 2. Schools that number by Year, such as British-curriculum schools, call the same age group Year 3. Whatever the previous school called the grade, placement at RDAS follows age and school records.

Can my child join partway through the school year?

Yes. RDAS accepts applications year-round, and many grade levels take new students mid-year when places are available. Grade placement still follows the child’s age on September 1 of that school year.