Which grade??
Jul 1st 2025 | 4:54 am
#1
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 2
Which grade??
Before sending an e-mail to the schools my mom would like to figure this out.
Me and my brother have been in the British system for a long time and we are planning on relocating the Newark, NJ.
I am in Year 8 going to yr 9 and my brother Year 5 going to yr6. My mom is worried that we will be bored if we go to 8th grade and 5th grade as she sees it as a repeat.
If any body knows pls help!!!
Me and my brother have been in the British system for a long time and we are planning on relocating the Newark, NJ.
I am in Year 8 going to yr 9 and my brother Year 5 going to yr6. My mom is worried that we will be bored if we go to 8th grade and 5th grade as she sees it as a repeat.
If any body knows pls help!!!
Last edited by christmasoompa; Jul 1st 2025 at 7:38 am. Reason: School name removed - BE is a public forum so please don't put info like that on here
Jul 1st 2025 | 5:02 am
#2
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: Which grade??
The US school system starts with kindergarten, then progressing to first grade, so "eighth grade" is actually the ninth grade of the US school system (for most children).
That said, you will likely be assigned a grade based on your age and birth date. The cut-off date is for NJ is October 1. So in 2025 a child has to be five years old by October 1, 2025 to be admitted to kindergarten, and six years old to be admitted to first grade, which means if your 14th birthday is on or before October 1, 2025, you will be assigned to 9th grade.
If your brother's 11th birthday is on or before October 1, 2025, he will be assigned to 6th grade.
Bear in mind that there are some things that you won't have studied at all in the UK, primarily US history and civics, so you're going to have plenty to learn even though your mother worries you might be bored.
That said, you will likely be assigned a grade based on your age and birth date. The cut-off date is for NJ is October 1. So in 2025 a child has to be five years old by October 1, 2025 to be admitted to kindergarten, and six years old to be admitted to first grade, which means if your 14th birthday is on or before October 1, 2025, you will be assigned to 9th grade.
If your brother's 11th birthday is on or before October 1, 2025, he will be assigned to 6th grade.
Bear in mind that there are some things that you won't have studied at all in the UK, primarily US history and civics, so you're going to have plenty to learn even though your mother worries you might be bored.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 1st 2025 at 5:16 am.
Jul 2nd 2025 | 7:16 am
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 80
Re: Which grade??
Those are good points to enter the school system. 6th grade is usually the start of middle school, and 9th grade starts high school, so everyone is a new starter and you have a great opportunity to make new friends.
Jul 7th 2025 | 1:14 pm
#4
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,227
From: Hong Kong, mostly.
Re: Which grade??
A couple of different issues to consider:
a) Where are you going to University? Is it the US? If so, you need to realize that grade 9 in the US "counts" as far as it goes for your academic record. The grades you get here will be reported to college admissions counselors and how you perform will be used to assess where you attend school. This is actually a big deal. Skipping ahead to grade 9 simply because you think "I've done all grade 8 stuff" can actually be a bit disconcerting. You don't want a subpar grade in a class you weren't ready for (see below) harming your college admissions process.
b) Teaching Styles (especially math). It's very important to realize that the US and UK teach math differently in the high schools. In the US, you'll take a whole year course in say Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, etc, whereas generally in the UK they teach "a little bit of each" every year as you move forward. The Algebra you will study in grade 9 second semester may be comparable to the algebra you learn in Sixth Form for example.
You also likely do not have the same basis in American history or American government that your peers will have. Basic concepts they were taught, like Valley Forge, the Alamo, Pinkertons, Carniege Libraries, and the like may not have been in your syllabus back in the UK such that you are starting from a slightly behind position. Not to mention we spell things differently here, and you may get dinged on grammar lessons at the start.
c) Social development. Moving forward and being the youngest kid in the class can hurt you academically and socially. The older kids may be physically stronger (sports, which is a big deal here) and will have milestones before you (like getting a car license). You may also struggle to meet people, at first, which might have an impact on you academically. Your brother, if he plays footy for example, will be classed by his birth year, not his academic year, so he'll be playing on a team with few of his classmates.
But if you really want to check, there is a thing called "common core" standards that some (not all) schools use as a guideline for where a kid be at such and such age. For example, here are the common core standards for Grade 8:
https://www.education.com/common-cor...hoCPzUQAvD_BwE
Take a look at some of the worksheets and see if this is your speed or not.
Good luck.
a) Where are you going to University? Is it the US? If so, you need to realize that grade 9 in the US "counts" as far as it goes for your academic record. The grades you get here will be reported to college admissions counselors and how you perform will be used to assess where you attend school. This is actually a big deal. Skipping ahead to grade 9 simply because you think "I've done all grade 8 stuff" can actually be a bit disconcerting. You don't want a subpar grade in a class you weren't ready for (see below) harming your college admissions process.
b) Teaching Styles (especially math). It's very important to realize that the US and UK teach math differently in the high schools. In the US, you'll take a whole year course in say Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, etc, whereas generally in the UK they teach "a little bit of each" every year as you move forward. The Algebra you will study in grade 9 second semester may be comparable to the algebra you learn in Sixth Form for example.
You also likely do not have the same basis in American history or American government that your peers will have. Basic concepts they were taught, like Valley Forge, the Alamo, Pinkertons, Carniege Libraries, and the like may not have been in your syllabus back in the UK such that you are starting from a slightly behind position. Not to mention we spell things differently here, and you may get dinged on grammar lessons at the start.
c) Social development. Moving forward and being the youngest kid in the class can hurt you academically and socially. The older kids may be physically stronger (sports, which is a big deal here) and will have milestones before you (like getting a car license). You may also struggle to meet people, at first, which might have an impact on you academically. Your brother, if he plays footy for example, will be classed by his birth year, not his academic year, so he'll be playing on a team with few of his classmates.
But if you really want to check, there is a thing called "common core" standards that some (not all) schools use as a guideline for where a kid be at such and such age. For example, here are the common core standards for Grade 8:
https://www.education.com/common-cor...hoCPzUQAvD_BwE
Take a look at some of the worksheets and see if this is your speed or not.
Good luck.
