Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/18/544483397/oldest-kids-in-class-do-better-even-through-college
"The study focused on differences between Florida children born just before and after the Sept. 1 cutoff date for starting kindergarten. That means the youngest children in any class were born in August and the oldest in September of the previous year. Figlio and his co-authors found that, on average, demographically similar September-born children performed better than their younger August-born classmates, all through their academic careers."
The differences between the youngest and oldest children were small but meaningful all through school, including college. This study also took into account family income and there was a difference between even children from wealthier families who were the youngest vs. the oldest.
I have an August birthday boy and although he's only 3 now, I can't imagine sending him to K only 2 weeks after he turns 5. It seems like most summer birthday boys and about half the girls start K right after they turn 6. I definitely see the benefit to waiting, although private pre-K or an extra year of day care definitely isn't cheap.
It appears this study addressed academic performance. I think it is ridiculous, and there have been other studies that have refuted this. FWIW, I was one of the youngest in my class, and graduated in the top of my class from a top University. I worked hard and did well.