In Jamaica, students typically graduate from high school at the age of 18.
Here’s a quick overview of the general timeline:
- Primary School: Students begin primary school at age 6 and graduate after 6 years (around age 12).
- High School: After primary school, students attend high school (also called secondary school) for 5 or 7 years, depending on whether they attend the traditional 5-year program or extend to a 7-year program that includes both high school and the final two years of preparation for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.
The CSEC exams (usually taken at the end of 5th form or 7th form) are a key milestone for graduation. After completing their CSEC exams (usually around age 17 or 18), students are considered to have graduated from high school. Some students may then continue their education in sixth form (the final two years of high school) to prepare for Cape (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations), which are roughly equivalent to A-levels in other countries.
So, most Jamaican students graduate from high school around 17-18 years old, depending on their path through the education system.