Korean School Grade Calculator
Enter a birth year to get the current grade plus entry and graduation years, based on Korea's calendar-year cohort system.
Current grade
Middle schoolGrade 2
Korean counting age: 15
Entry & graduation (enters March / graduates Feb)
- Elementary entry
- 2019
- Middle entry
- 2025
- High entry
- 2028
- High graduation
- 2031
Since 2009 — children born in the same calendar year share a grade. The school year starts in March; Jan–Feb belong to the previous one. University grade assumes standard progression.
Korean Grade by Birth Year
The most-searched values in one table. In Korea everyone born in the same calendar year is in the same grade, regardless of birthday.
Birth year to current grade
| Birth year | Current grade | Korean age |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Elementary 1 | 8 |
| 2018 | Elementary 2 | 9 |
| 2017 | Elementary 3 | 10 |
| 2016 | Elementary 4 | 11 |
| 2015 | Elementary 5 | 12 |
| 2014 | Elementary 6 | 13 |
| 2013 | Middle 1 | 14 |
| 2012 | Middle 2 | 15 |
| 2011 | Middle 3 | 16 |
| 2010 | High 1 | 17 |
| 2009 | High 2 | 18 |
| 2008 | High 3 | 19 |
| 2007 | University 1 | 20 |
| 2006 | University 2 | 21 |
| 2005 | University 3 | 22 |
| 2004 | University 4 | 23 |
US Grade ↔ Korean Grade
Both systems run 12 years (Korea: 6 elementary + 3 middle + 3 high), so they map one to one.
| US grade | Korean grade | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elementary 1 | 6–7 |
| 2 | Elementary 2 | 7–8 |
| 3 | Elementary 3 | 8–9 |
| 4 | Elementary 4 | 9–10 |
| 5 | Elementary 5 | 10–11 |
| 6 | Elementary 6 | 11–12 |
| 7 | Middle 1 | 12–13 |
| 8 | Middle 2 | 13–14 |
| 9 | Middle 3 | 14–15 |
| 10 | High 1 | 15–16 |
| 11 | High 2 | 16–17 |
| 12 | High 3 | 17–18 |
The US school year starts in September, Korea's in March, so at any given date the two can be off by about half a year. Confirm with the school for transfer or admission paperwork. University years assume no gap year or repeat.
Basis: Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Art. 15 (entry on March 1 of the year after turning age 6)
What this tool does
This Korean school grade calculator finds the current elementary, middle, high, or university grade from just a birth year. Since 2009, Korea uses a calendar-year cohort: children born in the same year (Jan 1–Dec 31) share a grade. First grade of elementary school begins in March of the year after a child turns 6 (international age), so the elementary entry year = birth year + 7. The school year runs March to February.
Who uses this
- Parents checking a child's current and upcoming grade
- Foreigners understanding the Korean school system
- Checking elementary school entry timing
- Comparing classmates' birth years
- Predicting high-school graduation and university entry years
How to use
- 1Enter the child's (or your own) birth year.
- 2The level and grade for the current school year appear instantly.
- 3Also see elementary/middle/high entry years, high-school graduation year, and the Korean counting age.
Basis (since 2009)
Elementary entry = March 1 of the year after a child turns international age 6 → elementary entry year = birth year + 7 → children born in the same year (Jan–Dec) share a grade The school year starts in March (Jan–Feb belong to the previous one): schoolYear = (month ≥ 3) ? year : year − 1 progression g = schoolYear − (birthYear + 7) // g=0 → grade 1 elementary g 0–5 → Elementary grades 1–6 g 6–8 → Middle grades 1–3 g 9–11 → High grades 1–3 g 12–15 → University years 1–4 (assumes standard progression) Note: before 2009 the cutoff was March 2 – March 1.
Worked examples
Example 1: Born 2018 → enters grade 1 in March 2025
2018 + 7 = starts elementary school in March 2025. From then on, progression g = school year − 2025, so the grade goes up by one with each school year.
Example 2: Born 2012 → grade 1 in 2019, middle school in 2025
2012 + 7 = enters elementary grade 1 in March 2019 → six years later, middle school grade 1 in March 2025. Progression g = school year − 2019 from there.
Example 3: Born 2006 → graduates high school in 2024, university in 2025
2006 + 7 = elementary grade 1 in March 2013 → graduates high school in February 2024 → university year 1 in March 2025 (standard progression).
Frequently asked questions
Why is the grade set by birth year, not birthday?
A 2009 law change made children born in the same calendar year (Jan–Dec) enter together. Before that, the cutoff was March 2 – March 1, so Jan–Feb births were one grade ahead ('early-year births').
Do 'early-year births' still exist?
Not for those born after 2009 — everyone born the same year shares a grade. For earlier generations (e.g. 1990s births), Jan–Feb births can still be one grade ahead.
Why does the grade differ if I check in Jan–Feb?
Because the school year starts in March. January and February still belong to the previous school year, so until the new March term begins, the previous grade is shown.
Is the university grade accurate?
University year is a reference assuming a student enrolls right after high school ('standard progression'). It does not account for gap years, transfers, leaves of absence, or military service, so it may differ in reality.
What about early entry or deferred entry?
This calculator applies the standard entry rule only. With early entry (one year earlier) or deferral (one year later), the actual grade can differ by ±1.
Cautions
- •Calendar-year cohort since 2009 — earlier generations may have 'early-year births'.
- •School year starts in March — Jan–Feb checks use the previous grade.
- •University grade assumes standard progression (no gap year/leave/transfer).
- •Early or deferred entry can shift the actual grade by ±1.
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-28