More like a Question: Reading

[choki]

I always get confused with the grades stuff
so the 1st yr u start to study is called 1st grade?

I follow the british system
GCSE "O" level at 16, GCSE "A" level at 18
Pre-school (kindergarden kinda like child learning centre) 5-6 yr old
Primary school 7-12 yr old
Secondary school 13-16 yr old
Junior College 17-18 yr old
and Uni 19 onwards

I believe that home tutoring is pretty common in the western countries...and probably the Weasleys' kids learned at home with Molly as the tutor

[Meg Boyd]

hmmm...I always wondered about the wizard's basic learning also. I suppose there must be some sort of a wizard's primary school, or else how would they know how to add the right number of things in their cauldrons or how to even read a spell book. I think I heard that JKR said that wizards are not required to go to a primary school. This means that you should learn the basics through either muggle schools, tutors, parents, or even small wizard run schools. That's my thought...

As for the system of school I am from the US. You might already know this, but I will post it incase.

3-4-5 years old---Pre-School/Nursery School (it has two names)
5-6---Kindergarten
6-7---First Grade
This continues until the 8th grade when you are 13-14 years old. Then it goes...
14-15---Freshman year (also known as 9th grade)
15-16---Sophmore year (10th Standardized Tests such as WKSCEs)
16-17---Junior year (11th with SATs, ACTs, PSATs etc)
17-18---Senior Year (12th Graduation Test which is only required in some States. My state will have this requirement after I have graduated from HS)
then one either goes to the military, a technical or vocational school to learn a career, a two year college, a four+ year college or university, or right to the work force.

[Phinea Rogue]

I've always thought that they go to muggle primary schools, dunno why. Of course, I couldn't imagine Draco in such a school, so probably he might have a tutor at home as well as some other "noble" families. But as for the rest, why shouldn't they attent muggle primary schools? JK Rowling has never mentioned anything like a wizard primary school...

[Broccoli]

But anyway, I thought that may be Harry didn't have that much difference from when regular school starts its first grade....but I guess he did. If it starts at 5 - he missed 6 years..

What do you mean he missed 6 years? Harry surely went to a muggle primary school... I am still not sure about Ron and other children from wizarding families though. Maybe they use magic to teach them to write and read? Some spells? Or maybe special books that act like real teachers?

[Marcus Baker]

I think that the Hogwarts system goes well with the american system.

Well, from Kindegarten-5th grade... thats primary school, but look at this:

6th grade (1st year) 11-12 years
7th grade (2nd year) 12-13 years
8th grade (3rd year) 13-14 years
9th grade (4th year) 14-15 years
10th grade (5th year) 15-16 years
11th grade (6th year) 16-17 years
12th grade (7th year) 17-18 years