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School stages explained: KG, elementary, middle and high school grades

What KG, elementary, middle and high school mean, the grades each covers in Saudi, American and English schools, and the stages at Saud International Schools.

Middle school is the stage between elementary and high school: usually Grades 6 to 8 in the United States, the intermediate stage (المرحلة المتوسطة), Grades 7 to 9, in the Saudi public system, and Grades 6 to 9 at Saud International Schools. This page explains what KG, elementary, middle and high school mean, in English and Arabic, which grades each covers in the Saudi, American and English systems, and why the numbers differ from one school to another.

  • KGKindergarten · رياض الأطفال
  • ElementaryAlso primary · الابتدائية
  • Middle schoolAlso intermediate · المتوسطة
  • High schoolAlso secondary · الثانوية

The four stages, in English and Arabic

  • KG, kindergarten (رياض الأطفال). The years before Grade 1. In Saudi Arabia, early childhood education is for children under six, in government and private kindergartens. In the United States, kindergarten is the one year before Grade 1, with pre-kindergarten (pre-K) before it. A school that numbers its kindergarten years, KG 1, KG 2 and so on, counts up to the year before Grade 1.
  • Elementary or primary school (المرحلة الابتدائية). The first years of school, from Grade 1. Elementary is the American word, primary the British one. In the Saudi public system, primary is six years, Grades 1 to 6.
  • Middle or intermediate school (المرحلة المتوسطة). The years between primary and secondary. The Saudi intermediate stage is three years, Grades 7 to 9; the English pages of the Saudi national platform call it Middle School. In the United States, a middle school starts at Grade 4, 5 or 6 and ends at Grade 6, 7 or 8, and a junior high school covers Grades 7 and 8, or 7 to 9.
  • High or secondary school (المرحلة الثانوية). The final years, up to Grade 12. The Saudi secondary stage is three years, Grades 10 to 12. An American high school usually covers Grades 9 to 12. In England, secondary school starts in Year 7, at age 11; Years 12 and 13 are often called the sixth form.

Side by side, year by year

Each row is a school year. Saudi and American schools, and Saud International Schools, count Grades from Grade 1. Schools in England count Years, starting a year earlier.

Grade Saudi public system United States England Saud International Schools
Before Grade 1 Early childhood: kindergarten (رياض الأطفال), for children under six Pre-K, then kindergarten Nursery (age 3–4), Reception (4–5), Year 1 (5–6) Early Learning: KG 1, KG 2, KG 3
Grades 1 to 4 Primary Elementary school Years 2 to 5 (age 6–10): Key Stage 1, then Key Stage 2 Elementary
Grade 5 Primary Elementary school, or the first year of some middle schools Year 6 (age 10–11): end of Key Stage 2 and of primary school Elementary, final year
Grade 6 Primary, final year Middle school, or elementary in some districts Year 7 (age 11–12): Key Stage 3, the first year of secondary school Middle School, first year
Grades 7 and 8 Intermediate: first and second intermediate Middle school or junior high school Years 8 and 9 (age 12–14): Key Stage 3 Middle School; the British pathway starts in Grade 7
Grade 9 Intermediate: third intermediate, final year High school, first year, or the last year of some junior high schools Year 10 (age 14–15): Key Stage 4 Middle School, final year
Grade 10 Secondary: first secondary High school Year 11 (age 15–16): end of Key Stage 4, when most pupils take GCSEs High School
Grades 11 and 12 Secondary: second and third secondary High school, ending with the diploma Years 12 and 13, often called the sixth form High School

Saudi stages: the national platform and the General Education Law. United States: the National Center for Education Statistics, whose grade spans vary from district to district. England: GOV.UK, which gives each Year as the child's age during that school year.

Grade or Year?

American and Saudi schools count Grades from Grade 1. Schools in England count Years, and Year 1 is the year before Grade 1: GOV.UK gives it as age 5 to 6, the year an American school calls kindergarten. So an English Year is always one more than the American Grade: Year 2 is Grade 1, Year 7 is Grade 6, and Year 13 is Grade 12.

England groups its Years into key stages (KS): Key Stage 1 is Years 1 and 2 (age 5–7), Key Stage 2 is Years 3 to 6 (7–11), Key Stage 3 is Years 7 to 9 (11–14) and Key Stage 4 is Years 10 and 11 (14–16).

A school teaching a British curriculum may use either word. At Saud International Schools both pathways count in Grades: the British pathway runs from Grade 7 to Grade 12, with Cambridge Checkpoint in Grade 8, IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10, and AS and A Level in Grades 11 and 12.

Why the stages differ

  • Saudi grades restart in each stage. Grade 7 is the first year of intermediate (الصف الأول المتوسط), and Grade 10 the first year of secondary (الصف الأول الثانوي).
  • Grade 6. In the Saudi public system it is the last year of primary; in many American districts, and at Saud International Schools, it is the first year of middle school.
  • Grade 9. It is the last year of intermediate in the Saudi system, and the last year of Middle School at Saud International Schools; an American high school usually counts it as its first year.
  • Ages. The national platform gives the start of primary as age 6, or 5 years and 6 months, and the General Education Law makes schooling compulsory from age 6 to 15 (Article 4). In England, GOV.UK gives Year 1 as age 5 to 6 and Year 7 as age 11 to 12.

For the age at which a child can join KG 1 or Grade 1 at Saud International Schools, ask the Admissions Office on 920002877 or at enquiries@sis.edu.sa.

The four stages at Saud International Schools

  1. Early Learning KG 1 to KG 3

    The three years before Grade 1. Boys and girls learn together, with one homeroom teacher for each class.

  2. Elementary Grades 1 to 5

    Boys and girls learn together, with one homeroom teacher for each class.

  3. Middle School Grades 6 to 9

    Boys and girls are taught in separate sections. Every student follows the American pathway in Grade 6; from Grade 7, a student follows either the American or the British pathway.

  4. High School Grades 10 to 12

    Students prepare for the American High School Diploma or for AS and A Level, and follow a university guidance programme.

The American pathway runs from KG 1 to Grade 12, and the British pathway from Grade 7 to Grade 12.

Questions about school stages

What grade is middle school?

In the United States, usually Grades 6 to 8: the National Center for Education Statistics counts as a middle school any school that starts at Grade 4, 5 or 6 and ends at Grade 6, 7 or 8. In the Saudi public system, the intermediate stage is Grades 7 to 9. At Saud International Schools, Middle School is Grades 6 to 9.

What is المرحلة المتوسطة in English?

Middle school, which is what the English pages of the Saudi national platform call it; it is also translated as intermediate school. In the Saudi public system it is three years, Grades 7 to 9, after six years of primary.

What is KG 1?

KG stands for kindergarten, and KG 1 is the first of a school's numbered kindergarten years. At Saud International Schools, Early Learning is KG 1, KG 2 and KG 3, the three years before Grade 1; KG 3 is the year an American school calls kindergarten.

What is the difference between Grade and Year?

American and Saudi schools count Grades from Grade 1. Schools in England count Years, and Year 1 is the year before Grade 1, so an English Year is one more than the American Grade: Year 7 is Grade 6, and Year 13 is Grade 12.

Is elementary school the same as primary school?

Yes. Elementary is the American word and primary the British one; in Arabic both are المرحلة الابتدائية. In the Saudi public system it is six years, Grades 1 to 6. At Saud International Schools, Elementary is Grades 1 to 5.

Is high school the same as secondary school?

Broadly, yes. The Saudi secondary stage is Grades 10 to 12, and an American high school usually covers Grades 9 to 12. In England, secondary school starts in Year 7, and Years 12 and 13 are often called the sixth form. At Saud International Schools, High School is Grades 10 to 12.

At what age do children start Grade 1 in Saudi Arabia?

The Saudi national platform gives the start of primary as age 6, or 5 years and 6 months, and the General Education Law makes schooling compulsory from age 6 to 15. For entry ages at Saud International Schools, ask the Admissions Office on 920002877 or at enquiries@sis.edu.sa.

What are the key stages in the British system?

England's groups of school Years: Key Stage 1 is Years 1 and 2 (age 5 to 7), Key Stage 2 is Years 3 to 6 (7 to 11), Key Stage 3 is Years 7 to 9 (11 to 14) and Key Stage 4 is Years 10 and 11 (14 to 16), when most pupils take GCSEs.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 15 November 2026.