Older Kindergarten Students May Have Advantage In High School And College

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A fascinating study by researchers at the College Board in tracking 1.6 million children found that those who were the oldest in their kindergarten class were more likely than younger classmates to take and pass advanced placement tests in high school and earn bachelor's degrees within four years.

Researchers zeroed in on children in the same kindergarten cohort who were born up to 364 days apart and who entered kindergarten between 1991 and 1995.

Also found in the study were data that showed younger students caught up with their older peers six years after high school graduation when both groups were earning bachelor's degrees at the same rate.

Read more in Education Week.

The study will be published in the forthcoming issue of The Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.