In South Korea, students typically complete high school around the age of 18.
Understanding High School Age Ranges in South Korea
Based on common practice and the provided reference, high school in South Korea generally covers an age range. While schooling up to middle school is compulsory, high school is not. However, attendance is very high.
The provided reference states:
This schooling level is not considered compulsory in South Korea, but over 90% of 15-to 18-year-olds in South Korea attend.
This indicates that students commonly enter high school around age 15 and attend until age 18. Graduating from high school marks the completion of this secondary education stage.
Typical Ages for Educational Stages in Korea
While exact ages can vary slightly depending on individual student progress or birthdate cutoffs, here's a general overview:
- Elementary School: Ages 8 to 13 (Grades 1-6)
- Middle School: Ages 14 to 16 (Grades 7-9) - Compulsory Education Ends Here
- High School: Ages 17 to 19 (Grades 10-12) - Commonly Attended by 15-to 18-year-olds as per reference
(Note: Ages here are typically based on the Korean age system or international age upon entry/completion of the school year).
Considering the provided reference, the age range of 15-18 strongly correlates with high school attendance, meaning graduation typically occurs around the upper end of this range, which is 18.
Flexibility in High School Attendance
The reference also mentions some flexibility:
In some situations, students are able to dictate the hours in which they attend their high school classes in order to accommodate a job.
This highlights that while the typical path is full-time attendance within the 15-18 age bracket, there are provisions for students who might need alternative arrangements, potentially affecting their completion timeline slightly, though graduating around 18 remains the norm for the vast majority.
In summary, while not compulsory, high school is widely attended by students from 15 to 18 years old, with graduation most frequently occurring when students are 18 years old.
