Education in the United States

Table of contents Education in the United StatesEducation in the United States Compulsory education What does ‘grade’mean? School Grades Education stages table Pre-school Elementary and secondary educationElementary and secondary education Post-secondary education Grading scale Basic curriculum American High School CurriculumAmerican High School Curriculum Additional courses Extracurricular activities Gallery

Education in the United States Education in the United States is provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Public education is for everyone. School curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies are set through local school boards with directives from the state. School districts have independent officials and budgets. State and local governments have direct control and are responsible for the education of students. Educational standards and standardized testing decisions are made by state governments. No country-level education system or curriculum exists in the United States

Education in the United States is compulsory In the United States, education is compulsory for all students until ages 16 to 18 depending on the individual state. Compulsory education is realised by - public schools (85% of students, free) - private schools (13%, obligatory tuition) - home school program (2% of students) Public education is free until the end of high school. College and university students have to pay tuition, but many earn scholarships or receive loans.

What does ‘grade’ mean? In America, the word grade has two meanings: (1) the score achieved on an exam or in a course (2) a year of education in elementary or secondary school

School Grades – ‘the K-12 education’ The American school year traditionally begins in August or September, after the traditional summer recess After pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children in the USA are divided by age into grades. This system is called the K-12 education. Before you enter college education you have to complete all twelve grades. Elementary Education The first year of elementary school is called the first grade. Elementary school lasts 5 years. Secondary Education The first year of secondary school is called the sixth grade. Junior high or middle school lasts three years. The first year of high school is called the ninth grade. High school lasts four years. The final year of high school is called the twelfth grade.

Pre-school education Before entering the first grade, some children complete also pre-school education. Still, there is no obligatory pre-kindergarten education in the United States. Mostly only the better-off kids attend preschools, as their parents believe that it will benefit in the future.

Elementary and secondary education Most children begin elementary education with kindergarten (usually five to six years old) and finish secondary education with twelfth grade (usually eighteen years old). When students do really good at school they may be allowed to skip regular grades. Some states allow students to leave school between ages 14– 17, before finishing high school, but students’ parents have to agree to that. In other states students have to stay in school until age 18..

Post-secondary education After completeing their twelfth grade students can continue their education. Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university. It consists of four years of study. There over 4000 colleges, universities and junior colleges in the country. Post- secondary education is not free. Luckily, some state governments offer scholarships.

Grading scale In the United States children are assessed throughout the school year by their teachers. Report cards are also given to students’ parents. The scores for individual tasks and tests are recorded for each student in a grade book. There are percent grades, and letter grades. The grading scale: A (excellent), B (above average), C (average), D (below average), and E/F (failing) A (100-90%) B (89-80%) C (79- 70%) D (69- 60%) E/F (below 60 %)

Basic curriculum

American High School Curriculum The following courses of study are required in all U.S. high schools: Science (two years minimum, biology, chemistry and physics) Mathematics (two years minimum, algebra, geometry, trigonometry) English (four years minimum, literature, humanities, etc.) Social sciences (three years minimum, history, government/economics courses) Physical education (at least one year) Many states require a "health" course in which students learn about anatomy, nutrition, first aid, sexuality, and birth control. Anti-drug use programs are also usually part of health courses.

Additional Courses Computers (programming, graphic design) Athetics (cross country, football, baseball, basketball, track & field, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, cheerleading, volleyball, ice hockey, field hockey, boxing, skiing/snowboarding) Publishing (journalism, student newspaper, yearbook/annual, literary magazine) Foreign languages (Spanish, French, Chinese, Latin, Greek, Gremaqn, Italian, Arabic, Japanese) The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps - its purpose is to instill patriotism.

Extracurricular activities American schools give priority to sports, clubs and activities. Extracurricular activities are non-compulsory educational activities under the supervision of the school. These activities can extend to many hours outside the normal school day. Sports programs and games, especially football and/or basketball, are major events for American students. High school athletic competitions are very popular in the community. Inner city schools serving poor students are heavily scouted by college and even professional coaches. State high school championship tournaments football and basketball attract high levels of public interest. In addition to sports, numerous non-athletic extracurricular activities are available in American schools, both public and private. Activities include musical groups, marching bands, student government, school newspapers, science club, debate teams, and clubs focused on an academic area (such as the Spanish Club) or cultural interests.

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