Grade Placement
PAUSD Admission Board Policy (BP 5111/AR 5111) is to place students in the grade corresponding to their birth date, which is established by California law (Education Code).
Please consult the Grade Placement By Birth Date table below to determine the grade corresponding to the birth date listed on your student’s identification you will be providing as part of the registration (birth certificate or passport).
- Kindergarten: Students with a birth date that qualifies them for a kindergarten enrollment, but who will have completed a year of kindergarten in the U.S. by June (public or private), may be enrolled in 1st grade at parent's request and upon presentation of supporting documentation. All other students, including international kindergarten students, will be placed by age only.
- Grades 1-12: If the grade listed in the below chart is different from that prescribed by your student’s current or past school grade, parents must provide evidence of successful grade completion, or existing grade enrollment, from previous schools (such as a report card, or an existing enrollment report, or transcripts, etc.). If not in English, an English version, translated by a professional, must be included.
- Grade placement for International Students: The Palo Alto Unified school year is mid-August to early June. If your child has completed a year from a school with a significantly different timeframe (Jan - Dec, April - March), or your student is entering a PAUSD school in the middle of the PAUSD school year, the student will be placed in the grade just completed or currently enrolled in. This provides the student with a low-pressure academic English-language environment while the student adjusts to their new social setting.
If no evidence is provided, your student will be placed in the grade listed in the below chart at the time of registration. Any subsequent grade change must be discussed with the PAUSD school in which your child is enrolled after registration.
High school students entering the second semester of 9th grade, or entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, must have an official student transcript from the previous school available for the meeting with a school counselor to register for classes. If not in English, an English version, translated by a professional, must be included.
Grade Placement By Birthdate
| Birth Date Range | 2023-24 School Year Grade | 2024-25 School Year Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 09/02/2019 to 06/05/2020 | TK | |
| 09/02/2018 to 04/02/2019 | TK | |
| 09/02/2018 to 09/01/2019 | KN | |
| 09/02/2017 to 09/01/2018 | KN | 1 |
| 09/02/2016 to 09/01/2017 | 1 | 2 |
| 09/02/2015 to 09/01/2016 | 2 | 3 |
| 09/02/2014 to 09/01/2015 | 3 | 4 |
| 09/02/2013 to 09/01/2014 | 4 | 5 |
| 09/02/2012 to 09/01/2013 | 5 | 6 |
| 09/02/2011 to 09/01/2012 | 6 | 7 |
| 09/02/2010 to 09/01/2011 | 7 | 8 |
| 10/02/2009 to 09/01/2010 | 8 | 9 |
| 11/03/2008 to 10/01/2009 | 9 | 10 |
| 11/03/2007 to 11/02/2008 | 10 | 11 |
| 12/03/2006 to 11/02/2007 | 11 | 12 |
| 12/03/2005 to 12/02/2006 | 12 |
Please contact Registration Services with any questions or call (650) 329-3707.