The effects of chronological age, gender, and delay of entry on academic achievement and retention: Implications for academic redshirting

School records for 313 students were reviewed to determine the effects of age of entry and gender on later academic achievement and grade retention. Twelve of these students were of legal age for school entry but were redshirted. Our findings indicated statistically significant but relatively small achievement differences between oldest and youngest children when cognitive ability scores were controlled. Redshirts, however, did not appear to gain any advantage in achievement as a result of delaying school entry.