We have preschool, generally at based, until 5-6yrs, depending on birthdate, and first year of formal school does have pretty similar goals - beginning to read (starting with alphabet) and making sure that kids aren't just reciting 1-10 but have correspondence and meaning etc. in high socio economic areas many children come in with all of this. In other areas not so much.... In any area it's a spectrum. But yes the goals of first year of formal schooling are scarily basic.