K1, K2, etc.

Thanks Symphony - I would have started a thread with the same question but you beat me to it. I only know infants, primary and junior!!

Cath

Have a look in the Children's Writer's & Artist's Online Toolkit which is a sticky at the top of this part of the forum. The answer ye seek is in there.

In most school districts here in the US, kids start kindergarten at age 5 or 6. My twins are seven, and in Grade 2. My 15 year old is in 10th grade.

So, grades K thru 4 = ages 5/6 to about 9.
Middle school, or grades 5 - 8, is ages 10 to about 13.
High school, which is mostly where your YA market is, is about 14 - 18 years old.

Help any?

Middle school is a bit of a confusion. In some school districts it is 6th - 8th grade, (11 - 14 year olds). In others it is 7th - 8th, or 5th - 8th and I believe there are some that have students in elementary through 8th grade, and there is no middle school. I think it depends on student population in those districts. In really small towns, you could have multiple grades in the same classroom. I taught a class that had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students in the same room. (6-8 yr/olds) I wish I could give you a more specific answer. But here is a general breakdown of ages in each grade.

Pre-K - or Preschool = 4 year olds (Still private here in the States. )

Elementary School
Kindergarten = 41/2 - 5
1st Grade - 6
2nd Grade - 7
and so forth.
Students usually leave elementary at 5th or 6th grade 10 - 11 years old.

Middle Schools or Secondary schools are Pre-Teen and early Teen. 10-14

High School is the last of the public schools here in the states.
Students enter as Freshmen 14-15,
then Sophomore 15-16,
Juniors 16 - 17,
and Seniors 17-18.

After that, College $$$$

Hope this helps!
TL
(I am basically telling you the same thing as Patti, only with a lot more confusion. )

K only means Kindergarten here in the US. After that we just use grade numbers: 1st grade, 2nd grade, etc.