What grades are included in elementary school?

I’m trying to understand the American education system structure, particularly how it divides the early years of schooling, and especially how it differs from other countries I’m familiar with. Since I’ve heard terms like “grammar school” in the UK for similar stages, I want to clarify exactly which grade levels constitute elementary school in the United States—does it start with kindergarten and go up to fifth or sixth grade, and how does this structure typically transition into middle school afterward? In some regions, elementary seems to cover more grades, so I’m looking for the most common grade-span definition used across the U.S. education system.

Elementary school typically includes the following grades in the United States:

1. Kindergarten (usually age 5-6, though some districts offer transitional kindergarten for younger 5-year-olds)
2. First Grade
3. Second Grade
4. Third Grade
5. Fourth Grade
6. Fifth Grade

Therefore, the standard elementary school grades encompass Kindergarten through Grade 5 (K-5).

Important Details:

• Kindergarten: This is universally considered the first year of formal schooling in elementary education, though sometimes it is part of preschool in different systems.
• Primary Grades (1-3): Focus intensely on foundational skills: reading, writing, and basic math concepts.
• Intermediate Grades (4-5): Build upon the primary years, introducing more complex reading comprehension, writing structures, mathematical operations (fractions, multi-digit multiplication/division), and begin studying specific subjects like science and social studies more formally.
• Age Range: Students in elementary school are generally between 5 and 11 years old.
• Variations:
  • K-6: In some districts, elementary school includes Kindergarten through Grade 6. This makes Grade 6 the final year before middle school.
  • K-4: Less commonly, some districts may end elementary school at Grade 4, with Grades 5 and 6 starting middle school.
  • K-8: In a few cases, particularly smaller districts, elementary school might extend through Grade 8, encompassing all primary and middle school years (though this is more accurately called an "elementary-middle school" or "K-8 school").
• Terminology: Elementary school is synonymous with "primary school" in many parts of the US and other countries.

In summary, the core elementary school grades are Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade (K-5), though variations like K-6 or K-4 exist depending on the specific school district’s structure.