# Technically, can anyone, any age go to high school? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932 "2006-09-16T05:38:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/1 "2006-09-16T05:38:08Z")
Theoretically, can anyone, any age go to high school? Sometimes you’ll see news stories about 75 year old grandmothers who never got the chance to finish school going back to high school, doing the work, and finally getting their diploma. So at least in those cases, there does not seem to be an upper age limit on being allowed to go to high school. Is this true at any age? What if a person already has their HS diploma – are they officially barred from ever enrolling in high school again? What if you’re just a 17 year old who just graduated and you’re not ready to go to work or college; could you sign up for a fifth year and take all those extracurricular and AP classes you couldn’t fit into your schedule before? What if you’re a 35 year old who just wants to go back to school and learn some new skills? And what if your local high school is one of those schools that allows their upperclassmen to only attend the classes they need to graduate – so that some students can rig their schedule so that they only need to be their for a half day. If you live near a school like that, could you legally just sign up for, say, the intro Spanish course? Of course, why someone would _want_ to subject themselves to unnecessary time in high school is another matter; I’m just curious if it’s even an option. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/2 "2006-09-16T05:51:27Z")
Like most education system decisions, this is a state or local district matter, and answers will vary. [In Missouri, the maximum age is 19,](http://www.mshsaa.org/eligibility/#Age_Limits) for example. [Wisconsin, 21.](http://dpi.wi.gov/lbstat/isescalc.html#max_age_year) [Boston, 19.](http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:NF4d_0UsWeYJ:boston.k12.ma.us/dept/NEWdocs/AMT-5.pdf+maximum+high+school+age&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=25&client=firefox-a) I believe the “little old ladies” generally get GED’s or have some special honorary diploma. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/3 "2006-09-16T05:51:51Z")
Most people past their teen years tend to prefer getting a GED instead. That being public schools only have to admit _school-age_ children who live withing their service area. The upper age limit is 20/21 in most places. And if all you want to do is learn some new skills or take a Spanish class you can just enroll as a non-degree student at your local community college. Of course if a high school really didn’t have any legal option but to admit a 35 it could make eir life _very_ unpleasant simply by treating em “just like any other student” (cause discrimination is bad 😃 . Meaning uniforms, hall passes, only being allowed to got the bathroom twice a say (my HS actually did that), etc. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/4 "2006-09-16T05:55:38Z")
I think most parents would be most unhappy if their 15 year old Britneys were in classes with 35 year old guys. Well, maybe not 35 year olds ('cause they’re, y’know, OLD), but 23 year olds for sure! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/5 "2006-09-16T05:58:46Z")
When I was in high school you had until age 21 to graduate. After that the state would not allow you to attend because of some sort of money/time limit of legal obligation to educate a student issue. I recall this being an issue for just one student, though, so I didn’t hear much about it. Adult education courses exist for older adults to continue their educations, however. Here’s what the [NH Department of Ed webpage](http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:4EMQ4XM0a0AJ:www.mrsd.org/~studentservices/techassistadvisory.pdf+age+21+high+school+education+New+Hampshire&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=19) says on the issue: > [@](#): > > Legal Residence and Right of Attendance: > (a) No person shall attend school, or send a pupil to the school, in any district of which the pupil is not a legal resident, without the consent of the district or of the school board. (b) In accordance with RSA 189:1-a, "It shall be the duty of the school board to provide, at district expense, elementary and secondary education to all pupils who reside in the district until such timeas the pupil has acquired a high school diploma or has reached age 21, whichever occurs first; provided, that the board may exclude specific pupils for gross misconduct or for neglect or refusal to conform to the reasonable rules of the school, and further provided that this section shall not apply topupils who have been exempted from school attendance in accordance with RSA 193:5 ---
**Author:** ![ChicanoRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@ChicanoRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChicanoRojo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/6 "2006-09-16T07:32:03Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] Theoretically, can anyone, any age go to high school? Sometimes you’ll see news stories about 75 year old grandmothers who never got the chance to finish school going back to high school, doing the work, and finally getting their diploma. So at least in those cases, there does not seem to be an upper age limit on being allowed to go to high school. Is this true at any age? [/quote] Like others have responded, depends on the school district or private school. Another factor, aside from age, is the amount credit hours that were needed to complete high school. Having worked with GED students, I know that, at least in my region, the youth could be 16 or 17 and would be told to get his/her GED rather than return to high school. The main reason being that the youth had very few high school credit hours that he/she would probably have to start in sophomore year in order to get back in track. For adults, i.e. 21 and over, high school counselors will usually refer them to GED or High School Equivalency programs. Most adults prefer acheiving their GED. Without counting GED training, an adult can get a GED in about month. > [@](#): > > What if a person already has their HS diploma – are they officially barred from ever enrolling in high school again? In order to increase your GPA and take college prep courses? Most likelyhood the counselor will recommend that you take subject specific college entry tesst so that if you score at certain level they can be used as college credit hours. For example: [UT-Austin and SAT Satisfactory Scores and Course Credit for the Academic Year 2006-2007](http://www.utexas.edu/academic/mec/cbe/cutsat.html) I have never met a person that has graduated from HS and gone back. > [@](#): > > What if you’re a 35 year old who just wants to go back to school and learn some new skills? Probably you’ll be asked to take classes at your local community college for specific fields or certificates. Most of the “new skills” are best gotten at community colleges. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/7 "2006-09-16T14:05:10Z")
Some community colleges offer HS completion courses (as distinct from a GED prep course). ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/8 "2006-09-16T22:24:03Z")
A person of any age can complete their High School coursework and recive a diploma from [The American School](http://americanschoolofcorr.com/). I learned about this from the home shool community. This is also the correspondence school which Dear Abby recommended in a column a few years ago. One can pay their tuition monthly; a full four year tuition is around $900, IIRC. This is a great option for home schoolers or students who cannot attend a brick-and-mortar school because of health issues. It’s also a great way for the older person to “go back to HS” and get a diploma. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/9 "2006-09-16T22:43:35Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Like most education system decisions, this is a state or local district matter, and answers will vary. [In Missouri, the maximum age is 19, for example.](http://www.mshsaa.org/eligibility/#Age_Limits) for example. ::nitpick:: The link provided is for the “Missouri State High School Activities Association” which prevents athletes over nineteen from particpating in sports. It doesn’t stop them from joining school. ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/10 "2006-09-16T23:38:07Z")
What about the other end of the age spectrum? Can an 8 year old who has the knowledge of a 15 year old skip several grades and enter high school? What is the minimum age? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/11 "2006-09-17T00:27:57Z")
[QUOTE=DaveRaver] What about the other end of the age spectrum? Can an 8 year old who has the knowledge of a 15 year old skip several grades and enter high school? What is the minimum age? [/QUOTE] Yes, there are many examples of child prodigies who’ve enter high schoo (and even college) before their teens. One boy even graduated medical school at 17. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/12 "2006-09-17T00:30:03Z")
And yet noone has mentioned [Jerri Blank.](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0369994/Ss/0369994/sedaris1.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0369994) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/13 "2006-09-17T10:08:43Z")
At least as far as I understand it, by Norwegian law anyone who has not obtained a secondary school diploma is eligible to attend upper secondary (_videregående skole,_ the nearest equivalent to an American high school), as long as a space is available. My husband, after a bad experience in lower secondary (_ungdomsskole_, roughly like an American junior high or middle school), took a year off, worked full-time, and got back the drive to continue his education. He attended upper secondary as one of the more motivated pupils in his class. However, pupils who have just finished lower secondary have first priority when spaces are allocated, and in practice it’s hard to go back these days. Larger municipalities have special schools for adults who never got their upper secondary diplomas, and private schools allow non-traditional pupils to attend (as well as letting those who aren’t satisfied with their scores re-take single classes, for example so that they can get into a competitive university program). ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2006, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/14 "2006-09-17T12:36:13Z")
My school district got a request from a 33 year old woman to attend high school for three years so that she could get a diploma. I believe she was interested in HS instead of the GED program because she was on public assistance and it would continue without problems as long as she was in school. The request was granted and she did graduate. She was treated pretty much like any other student, except that she signed her own permission slips. When I had her in class I was amazed to find she was incredibly immature, even having her own little flock of 14 year old friends. I have no idea if the policy has been changed since then, but I seriously doubt a man over 21 would be allowed to attend high school. The policy for special ed students is that they can finish the school year in which they turn 21, whether or not they graduate then. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/15 "2006-09-18T22:26:57Z")
My great aunt, at age 106, got a notice from the local school system that she was required to enroll in first grade. (Actually, the notice was addressed to her parents.) Apparently the local school system computer only allowed 2 digits in the age field. So she actually showed up at school, saying she was there to start first grade. They were surprised & embarrassed, and explained that it was a mistake, and that she didn’t really have to attend first grade. But she said that a lot had happened since she took first grade the first time, and it would probably be worthwhile to go thru it again. So she did! The teacher was smart enought to take advantage of it, and had her tell the students stories of what it was like when she had first attended school (100 years before), what her life was like at the time, etc. The kids loved it, and really enjoyed having her there. She continued to attend the class when her health allowed, at least one day a week, for much of the school year. The local school district did allow her to attend, even though she was over the normal age limit. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/16 "2006-09-18T22:57:51Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] My great aunt, at age 106, got a notice from the local school system that she was required to enroll in first grade. (Actually, the notice was addressed to her parents.) Apparently the local school system computer only allowed 2 digits in the age field. So she actually showed up at school, saying she was there to start first grade. They were surprised & embarrassed, and explained that it was a mistake, and that she didn’t really have to attend first grade. But she said that a lot had happened since she took first grade the first time, and it would probably be worthwhile to go thru it again. So she did! The teacher was smart enought to take advantage of it, and had her tell the students stories of what it was like when she had first attended school (100 years before), what her life was like at the time, etc. The kids loved it, and really enjoyed having her there. She continued to attend the class when her health allowed, at least one day a week, for much of the school year. The local school district did allow her to attend, even though she was over the normal age limit. [/QUOTE] That’s such a great story, do you have any cite so that I could prove its authenticity to others? ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/17 "2006-09-19T02:55:08Z")
Sounds like it would make a great screenplay. Consider it. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-can-anyone-any-age-go-to-high-school/372932/18 "2006-09-19T03:09:10Z")
[QUOTE=Cub Mistress] …I have no idea if the policy has been changed since then, but I seriously doubt a man over 21 would be allowed to attend high school. The policy for special ed students is that they can finish the school year in which they turn 21, whether or not they graduate then. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t a school district be setting themselves up for a lawsuit if they allowed a woman over 21 to attend high school, but refused to allow a man to do so?