Class of 2038: What Grade Are They In?
As of the 2026 to 27 school year, the class of 2038 is in 1st grade. Most are 6 or 7 years old, and they graduate high school in May or June 2038.
- Grade in 2026 to 27
- 1st
- Elementary
- Age now
- 6 or 7
- Born 2019 or 2020
- High school
- Fall 2034
- Graduates May or June 2038
- Their college class
- 2042
- Estimate, four year path
What 1st grade means for the class of 2038
The class of 2038 is in elementary school, 1st grade in 2026 to 27. Middle school starts in fall 2031 and high school in fall 2034; grades usually start counting toward a college application in 9th grade, so these years are about reading, math and habits rather than a GPA.
Class of 2038 timeline, kindergarten to college
Every school year of the class of 2038, with the age most students are at the start and the end of the year. The college rows assume a four year degree straight after high school.
| Grade | School year | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 2025 to 26 | 5 to 6 |
| 1st grade | 2026 to 27 | 6 to 7 |
| 2nd grade | 2027 to 28 | 7 to 8 |
| 3rd grade | 2028 to 29 | 8 to 9 |
| 4th grade | 2029 to 30 | 9 to 10 |
| 5th grade | 2030 to 31 | 10 to 11 |
| 6th grade | 2031 to 32 | 11 to 12 |
| 7th grade | 2032 to 33 | 12 to 13 |
| 8th grade | 2033 to 34 | 13 to 14 |
| 9th grade (freshman) | 2034 to 35 | 14 to 15 |
| 10th grade (sophomore) | 2035 to 36 | 15 to 16 |
| 11th grade (junior) | 2036 to 37 | 16 to 17 |
| 12th grade (senior) | 2037 to 38 | 17 to 18 |
| College year 1 (freshman) | 2038 to 39 | 18 to 19 |
| College year 2 (sophomore) | 2039 to 40 | 19 to 20 |
| College year 3 (junior) | 2040 to 41 | 20 to 21 |
| College year 4 (senior) | 2041 to 42 | 21 to 22 |
The highlighted row is the 2026 to 27 school year. Computed with a September 1 kindergarten cutoff and a new school year from July 1.
Key dates for the class of 2038
- Born: September 2, 2019 to September 1, 2020 (September 1 cutoff, on time start)
- Kindergarten: fall 2025
- Middle school (6th grade): fall 2031
- High school (9th grade): fall 2034
- PSAT/NMSQT that counts for National Merit: October 2036 (11th grade)
- Senior year: fall 2037
- FAFSA for the first college year opens: by October 1, 2037
- Early decision and early action deadlines: usually November 2037
- College decision day: May 1, 2038
- High school graduation: May or June 2038
- College graduation, four year path: about 2042
Born on a different date, or in a state with another cutoff? The graduation year calculator finds the class from any birthday or grade.
Admissions dates: BigFuture, PSAT/NMSQT FAQ, U.S. Department of Education, 2027 to 28 FAFSA, College Board, Early decision and early action, checked October 23, 2026. Each college and state sets its own deadlines, so check the ones on your list.
College class of 2038
In college, the class of 2038 means the students who start as freshmen in fall 2034 and finish a four year degree in spring 2038; they will be the high school class of 2034. In high school, the class of 2038 is in 1st grade in 2026 to 27, and on a straight four year path it is the college class of 2042. A college welcoming its class of 2038 and a high school counting down to graduation in 2038 are talking about two groups four years apart.
Questions and answers
What grade is the class of 2038 in right now?
In the 2026 to 27 school year the class of 2038 is in 1st grade. They move up a grade every fall and graduate in May or June 2038, 12 school years from now counting this one.
How old is the class of 2038?
Most of the class of 2038 is 6 or 7 years old right now (as of the 2026 to 27 school year). With the common September 1 kindergarten cutoff, students who started on time were born between September 2, 2019 and September 1, 2020, so most turn 18 during senior year and graduate at 18, with summer birthdays still 17.
When will the class of 2038 start high school?
They start 9th grade in fall 2034, the 2034 to 35 school year, after starting kindergarten in fall 2025 and middle school in fall 2031.
When does the class of 2038 graduate?
They graduate from high school in May or June 2038, at the end of the 2037 to 38 school year; each district sets its own date. Students who go straight to a four year college are the college class of 2042.
Is the college class of 2038 the same as the high school class of 2038?
No. The college class of 2038 starts college in fall 2034 and will be the high school class of 2034. The high school class of 2038 is in 1st grade in 2026 to 27; on a four year path they are the college class of 2042.
What year was the class of 2038 born?
Mostly 2019 and 2020: from September 2, 2019 to September 1, 2020 with a September 1 cutoff. In states with a later cutoff, fall birthdays from 2020 can join this class too, and a child who started kindergarten a year late belongs to the class of 2039.
From CurveFox