The Correlation between the Age of Starting School and Academic Achievement

Abstract

Schooling age and the level of school readiness are considered critical concepts in students' adaptation to school, in their academic achievement and in attaining educational objectives. Therefore, the issues of schooling age and school readiness are frequently discussed within educational matters. In Turkey, schooling age is 60 months or older in the 4+4+4 educational system. According to this legal arrangement, students who turn 60 months at the time are allowed to start school with parental consent, which means that students can start school one year earlier. In this study, the relation between the fourth grade students' schooling ages and their academic achievement is investigated. The data for the fourth grade students who studied in schools both in the city and in the province under the Niğde Provincial Directorate of National Education in 2015-2016 academic years were investigated by the study. The data were collected from the students' second term grade-point averages by scanning the e-school databases of schools in Niğde. The data was analyzed using descriptive, comparison and relational tests. The results of the study revealed weak, negative and significant relations between students' schooling ages and their academic achievement. When compared in terms of schooling age groups, a significant difference in terms of low age groups was found in students' academic achievements. According to this result, students' grade-point averages increase as their schooling ages decrease.© 2017 IOJES. All rights reserved Keywords: 1 Schooling age, 4+4+4 educational system, school readiness, learning, teaching Extended SummarySchooling age and the level of school readiness are considered critical concepts in students' adaptation to school, in their academic achievement and in attaining educational objectives. Therefore, the issues of schooling age and school readiness are frequently discussed in educational matters. In Turkey, schooling age was 6 (72 months) until 2012. However, it is 60 months or over in the 4+4+4 educational system, which began in 2012. According to this legal arrangement, students who turn 60 months at the time are allowed to start school with parental consent, which means that students can start school one year earlier. Early schooling age is criticized in reports by various institutions and organizations. In this study, student achievement is only a judgement, rather than being based on the data of the students directly affected by the situation. Studies based directly on student data are needed in order to understand the relation between schooling age and student achievement. This study aims to investigate the relation between the fourth grade students' schooling ages and their academic achievement. Method