All of my grandkids are on track to be 16 during their senior year of high school and turn 17 either during or just after, with no “skips” or “hold-backs” - except for one (out of eight) who will turn 17 in July, after his junior year.
My own kids were the same: all but one (out of four) turned 17 during their senior year. The exception turned 17 in August, just before school started.
It was similar in my own generation. I turned 17 in October of my senior year. My brother turned 18 in May, right after graduation, and my sister turned 17 shortly after her senior year began - basically, the same pattern.
So we’re talking three different eras here, and the consistent theme is that being 19 at the start of your senior year is unusual. I realize that having 13 or 14 out of my family fall into this pattern might make us the outliers, but it still shouldn’t be strange to see 16-year-old seniors. Of the people I’ve seen first-hand, 12 out of 15 were at least 16 during their senior year.
Back when I was in school, and when my kids went through, the norm seemed to be starting kindergarten at age five. That was just standard procedure - nothing odd about it. Sure, there were a few kids who were four or six in kindergarten, like my own, but five was typical.
To be 19 at the start of your senior year would mean you started kindergarten at seven, which seems pretty far-fetched.
I’m pretty sure there are states that wouldn’t even allow a 19-year-old to compete in high school sports their senior year. I remember when we considered moving to North Carolina around 2007, their rules (at least then) said you couldn’t be 19 years, 6 months by graduation to compete as a senior. For example, if school ended May 15, you couldn’t turn 19 before December 15. I remember this because a kid at a local school I was helping out at missed out on his senior wrestling season (and football too) because he turned 19 in November. He wasn’t held back on purpose - just started late due to life circumstances. He wasn’t some megastar; he was just a hardworking kid who happened to win state by wrestling out of his mind one weekend.
I know I’m rambling, but I hope my point is clear.
It’s summer. The rum is high.