Chronological age at entrance to first grade: Effects on elementary school success

The relationship between school-entry age and academic achievement in Lebanon. (c2011)

“…Nevertheless, much of extant research supports the view that children who start school when they are older achieve higher academic ratings or get better grades in school than their younger peers (Bedard & Dhuey, 2006;Bickel et al, 1991;Bigelow, 1934;Boardman, 2006;Breznitz & Teltsch, 1989;Crosser, 1991;Datar, 2003Datar, , 2006Davis et al, 1980;Dickinson & Larson, 1963;DiPasquale et al, 1980;Dobkin & Ferreira 2010;Easton-Brooks, 2010;El-Hassan, 1998;Lin et al, 2009;Verachtert et al, 2010). The current study is an exploratory effort to determine whether this is the case in one relatively large private school in Lebanon.…”

“…The findings of the general research favors a positive relationship between SEA and academic achievement, i.e., older school-entrants perform better in school (Bedard & Dhuey, 2006;Bickel et al, 1991;Bigelow, 1934;Boardman, 2006;Breznitz & Teltsch, 1989;Crosser, 1991;Datar, 2003Datar, , 2006Davis et al, 1980;Dickinson & Larson, 1963;DiPasquale et al, 1980;Dobkin & Ferreira 2010;Easton-Brooks, 2010;El-Hassan, 1998;Lin et al, 2009;Verachtert et al, 2010). Some researchers have also found that older children experience less emotional problems in school and are less readily referred for learning disabilities and less readily made to repeat a grade (Dhuey & Lipscomb, 2010;Langer, Kalk, & Searls, 1984;Weinstein, 1969).…”

“…Many studies have found that age advantages wane and disappear in later school years (Bickel et al, 1991;Davis et al, 1980;Deming & Dynarski 2008;Grissom, 2004;Stipek & Byler, 2001;Verachtert et al, 2010), whereas other studies found that the age advantages persist (Massey, Elliott, & Ross, 1996) and even increase with time (Breznitz & Teltsch, 1989).…”

“…Sending children to school early cuts down on the amount of time they spend with their mother and diminishes the mother's contribution to their development (Datar, 2003). SEA may also affect how well they perform in school (Bedard & Dhuey, 2006;Bickel, Zigmond, and Strayhorn, 1991;Bigelow, 1934;Boardman, 2006;Breznitz & Teltsch, 1989;Crosser, 1991;Datar, 2003Datar, , 2006Davis, Trimble, & Vincent, 1980;Dickinson & Larson, 1963;DiPasquale, Moule, & Flewelling, 1980;Uphoff & Gilmore, 1985;Verachtert, Fraine, Onghena, & Ghesquiere, 2010) and may influence how much schooling they receive, i.e., their academic attainment (Angrist & Krueger, 1992;Dobkin & Ferreira, 2010;Pagani, Fitzpatrick, Archambault, & Janosz 2010). In addition, SEA determines the age at which children finish school and eventually enter the labor force, therefore affecting their cumulative life-time contribution to the economy before retirement (Deming & Dynarski, 2008;Hámori, 2007).…”

“…McDonald (2001) agreed and observed that "in some countries the youngest continue to be disadvantaged but in other countries they perform best" (p. 381). Bickel et al, (1991) pointed out that the advantage that older children maintain over younger ones may be curriculum-specific and should not be generalized to apply to other districts or localities with different curricula. Crosser (1991) observed that the different curricula and type of educational programs may unequally influence the academic achievement of the various age groups.…”