Average Age of High School Graduates

Hey y'all, as a senior, the thought just struck me. How old are most students when they graduate high school?

Most students in the United States turn 18 during their senior year of high school, and so most high school students graduate at the age of 18. However, the specific age at graduation depends on a variety of factors, including the cutoff date for kindergarten entry in a student's district, whether the student ever skipped or repeated a grade and the student's birthdate.

For example, many school districts have an age cutoff stating that a child must turn 5 by a certain date to start kindergarten that year. This date varies but is often in early fall, so students with summer birthdays will often be 17 at the start of senior year and turn 18 before they graduate.

Students with birthdays in the later part of the year may turn 18 after graduation if they are on the younger side for their grade level. Conversely, students who started school at an older age or repeated a grade may turn 19 during their senior year. So while 18 is the most common age at graduation, there is some variation.