Class of 1979: What Year Were They Born & How Old Are They?
Students in the Class of 1979 graduated 47 years ago. They were born in 1961 and are turning 65 in 2026.
Updated for the 2026–2027 school year
Age in 2026
65
years old (turning)
Started High School
1975
Fall semester
College Grad
1983
4-year degree
Class of 1979: K–12 journey
100%
The Class of 1979 has finished all 13 years of K–12.
Countdown to the 50-year reunion (summer 2029)
Most reunions are held in summer or early fall; dates are set by each class.
Class of 1979 Reunions
1989
10-Year Reunion
37 years ago
2004
25-Year Reunion
22 years ago
2029
50-Year Reunion
in 3 years
Academic Journey for the Class of 1979
Class of 1979: Grade by School Year
Every school year from kindergarten to senior year for the Class of 1979, on the standard US calendar (school years run late August to June).
Generation: Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
Notable People in the Class of 1979
These well-known individuals share a graduation year of approximately 1979 based on their birth year.
Barack Obama
44th US President
Born 1961 · Class of ~1979
George Clooney
Actor & Filmmaker
Born 1961 · Class of ~1979
Eddie Murphy
Comedian & Actor
Born 1961 · Class of ~1979
International Equivalent of Class of 1979
Born in 1961 and educated in a different country? Here is what your graduating class would be called.
United States
Class of 1979
Grade 12, High School Diploma
UK (England)
Year 13, 1979
A-Level / UCAS application year
Australia
Year 12, 1979
ATAR score — university entrance
India
Class 12, 1979
10+2 Board Exams (CBSE/ISC)
Alternative Graduation Timelines for Class of 1979
Not everyone follows the exact standard path. Here is how graduation shifts based on different academic scenarios.
Accelerated Path
Started school 1 year early
Standard Path
Standard path
Delayed by 1 Year
Repeated a grade or started late
Transfer Path
2-year community college transfer
Not on the standard US system?
Recalculate based on credits, a different country, or exact start dates.
High School Graduation Year Calculator for United States by Current Grade
Choose your current grade to calculate
Class of 1979: Frequently Asked Questions
What grade is the Class of 1979 in right now?
The Class of 1979 has already graduated from high school (Spring 1979).
How old is the Class of 1979?
Students in the Class of 1979 were mostly born in 1961 and are turning 65 in 2026.
What year was the Class of 1979 born?
Most students in the high school Class of 1979 were born in 1961 (those born September–December 1960 can also fall in this class, depending on the state cutoff).
When did the Class of 1979 start high school?
The Class of 1979 started high school as freshmen in Fall 1975 and entered kindergarten in Fall 1966.
When does the Class of 1979 graduate?
US high schools graduate between late May and mid-June, so the Class of 1979 graduates in Spring 1979.
When will the Class of 1979 graduate college?
On a standard 4-year degree starting straight after high school, the Class of 1979 graduates college in 1983.
When is the Class of 1979 10-year reunion?
The 10-year reunion for the Class of 1979 is in 1989, 37 years ago.
What generation is the Class of 1979?
The Class of 1979, born in 1961, belongs to Baby Boomers (1946–1964).