What age range is considered elementary school age?

What age range is typically considered elementary school age, as this can vary slightly depending on regional or country-specific educational systems? I’m specifically asking because I’m planning cross-cultural comparisons of child development milestones and need clarity to accurately categorize data, given that in some contexts elementary might start earlier or extend later due to differences in educational structures. Additionally, does this range align with the common international definition used by organizations like UNESCO, or are there significant deviations?

Elementary school in the United States typically encompasses children from ages 5 to 11 years old. This corresponds to grades Kindergarten through Grade 5 or Grade 6, depending on the specific school district structure:

• Kindergarten: Ages 5-6 (Entry age varies slightly by state/cutoff dates, but typically age 5)
• Grade 1: Ages 6-7
• Grade 2: Ages 7-8
• Grade 3: Ages 8-9
• Grade 4: Ages 9-10
• Grade 5: Ages 10-11
• Grade 6: Ages 11-12 (In districts where elementary school includes Grade 6; otherwise, Grade 6 is part of Middle/Junior High School)

Therefore, the core elementary school age range is generally considered to be 5 years to 11 years old, covering the majority of primary education before students transition to middle school or junior high school (typically starting around age 11-12).