How does the american grade system work?

Question

in films and stuff when americans say 5th grade for example is that year 5 or what - and kindergarten is that one year-

Answer 1

generally, 5th grade is the sixth year in school.  Kindergarten is the first.

However, this is not federally mandated, and in many schools, kindergarden doesnt exist, or is divided up in to several "sections" over one year.

Answer 2

Yes, it's a little confusing.  In the American public school system, it goes like this:

Kindergarten - 1st year of school

1st grade - 2nd year

2nd grade - 3rd year

3rd grade - 4th year

4th grade - 5th year

5th grade - 6 year

6th grade - 7th year

7th grade - 8th year

8th grade - 9th year

9th grade -10th year

10th grade - 11th year

11th grade - 12 th year

12th grade - is actually the 13th year of school

Now, to make it even more complicated, numerous children also attend pre-school when they are 4 years old, the year before they attend Kindergarten.  So a student in the 12th grade who also attended pre-school will actually be in his 14th year of school.