How old are 4th graders?

4th grade · 2026–27

9–10 years old

4th graders are usually 9 at the start of the school year and turn 10 during it.

For 2026–27 in most states, they were born Sep 2, 2016 – Sep 1, 2017.

Grade by age is a guide, not a rule. Some families wait a year to start kindergarten (often called redshirting), some schools allow early entry, and homeschoolers can place a child by readiness in each subject.

4th grade curriculum Check scholarships

Age by grade for 2026–27 (September 1 cutoff)
Grade	Typical age	Birthdates
Preschool (3s)	3–4	Sep 2, 2022 – Sep 1, 2023
Pre-K (4s)	4–5	Sep 2, 2021 – Sep 1, 2022
Kindergarten	5–6	Sep 2, 2020 – Sep 1, 2021
1st grade	6–7	Sep 2, 2019 – Sep 1, 2020
2nd grade	7–8	Sep 2, 2018 – Sep 1, 2019
3rd grade	8–9	Sep 2, 2017 – Sep 1, 2018
4th grade	9–10	Sep 2, 2016 – Sep 1, 2017
5th grade	10–11	Sep 2, 2015 – Sep 1, 2016
6th grade	11–12	Sep 2, 2014 – Sep 1, 2015
7th grade	12–13	Sep 2, 2013 – Sep 1, 2014
8th grade	13–14	Sep 2, 2012 – Sep 1, 2013
9th grade	14–15	Sep 2, 2011 – Sep 1, 2012
10th grade	15–16	Sep 2, 2010 – Sep 1, 2011
11th grade	16–17	Sep 2, 2009 – Sep 1, 2010
12th grade	17–18	Sep 2, 2008 – Sep 1, 2009

Cutoff source: NCES State Education Reforms, Table 1.3: kindergarten entrance requirements by state. Checked October 2026.

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Fourth graders are usually 9 years old at the start of the year and turn 10 during it. So most 4th graders are 9 or 10.

With a September 1 cutoff, 4th graders for 2026–27 were born between September 2, 2016, and September 1, 2017. Fourth grade raises the bar in every subject: multi-digit multiplication and long division, equivalent fractions, longer novels, and multi-paragraph essays. Teachers sometimes call it the "fourth grade slump" year, because children who haven't mastered reading start to struggle with reading-heavy science and history.

The calculator above shows exact 4th grade birthdates for your state: choose a state and it applies that state's kindergarten cutoff to the 2026–27 school year. Homeschool families in most states choose their child's grade themselves and can work at different levels by subject; if your state requires testing or evaluations at certain grades, factor that in.

Tips for using it

Long division goes much more smoothly when multiplication facts are automatic; review them before starting.
Ask your 4th grader to explain what they read in their own words; it builds the comprehension upper grades need.

Variations

All what grade is my child

Questions

Can a 10-year-old be in 4th grade?

Yes. Many 4th graders turn 10 during the school year. A child who was already 10 at the start of 4th grade is older than most classmates, often because of a late start.

What do kids learn in 4th grade?

Multiplying multi-digit numbers, long division, equivalent and mixed fractions, decimals to hundredths, multi-paragraph writing, and state history in many schools.