A new study finds that delaying kindergarten entry, commonly called "redshirting," produces minimal long-term academic benefits for children.
Parents often hold back children who are born late in the school year, hoping an extra year of maturation will improve school performance. The practice has grown steadily over the past two decades, with roughly 10 percent of kindergarten-eligible children now entering school a year late.
Researchers analyzed data comparing children who entered kindergarten on time with those who delayed entry by one year. The study tracked outcomes through elementary and middle school, measuring academic achievement, grade retention, and special education placement. Children who redshirted showed modest short-term gains in kindergarten and first grade. By third grade, however, these advantages largely disappeared. By middle school, redshirted and on-time students performed nearly identically on standardized tests.
The findings challenge a widespread assumption among parents that an extra year substantially improves educational outcomes. While some individual children benefit from delayed entry, the research suggests redshirting is not a reliable strategy for boosting long-term academic success.
Delaying school entry does carry real costs. Families forgo a year of free public education. Students spend additional tuition money on preschool or other childcare. Redshirted children may also experience social costs from being older than peers when they finally enter school.
The study adds to growing evidence questioning the benefits of academic redshirting. Earlier research from Harvard and Stanford universities reached similar conclusions. Experts note that kindergarten readiness depends more on individual development, home literacy, and classroom quality than on age alone.
Parents considering redshirting should weigh financial factors and their child's specific needs rather than assuming a later start date guarantees better grades. Teachers and school districts can provide individual assessments to help families make informed decisions.