The 1984-85 age-grade distribution for the New York City Public Schools shows that one-third of the city's approximately 850,000 general education and resource room students were above the standard age for their grade. The proportion of overage students increased in the upper grades; in grades nine, ten, and eleven, over half were above standard age. The large majority of students in dropout retrieval programs were overage, nearly half by three or more years. The findings indicate the following: (1) a large number of students are being held to promotional standards before being advanced to the next grade; (2) as of December 31, 1984 there were 108,000 students between 17 and 21 years of age in the system; (3) the particular educational needs of these young adults must be considered in developing programs and curricula; (4) young adults should be encouraged to participate in the decision-making regarding their educations; and (5) materials and course work should address the issues young adults face in such areas as career choice and family life. This report contains an introduction summarizing age-distribution findings, tables with finding results, and a copy of the New York City Promotional Policy for grades four through nine. (Author/PS)