In English,
Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, and control and funding come from three levels: federal, state and local. Children's education is compulsory.
Public education is universal. The school's curriculum, funds, teaching and other policies are formulated by local elected school committees, which have jurisdiction over the school district and accept many instructions from the state legislature. School districts are usually separated from other local jurisdictions and have independent officials and budgets. Educational standards and standardized tests are usually decided by the state government.
The age of compulsory education varies from state to state. It starts at the age of five to eight and ends at the age of fourteen to eighteen. More and more states now require compulsory education to last until 18 years old.
The requirements of compulsory education can usually be met by educating children in public schools, state-certified private schools or approved home school programs. In most public and private schools, education is divided into three levels: primary school, middle school (sometimes called junior high school) and high school (sometimes called secondary education). In almost all these levels of schools, children are divided into grades according to age groups, from kindergarten (the first grade of primary school) to twelfth grade, the last year of high school. The exact age range of students in these grades varies slightly from region to region.
In the United States, college education, better known as "college", is usually managed separately from the primary and high school systems and is described in a separate section below.
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primary school
American children start school at the age of five. The first year in school is called kindergarten. This is what the American education system requires all American children to register. The second year of school is considered as the first year of primary school, and it is called grade one. In the United States, the word grade has two meanings: (1) the score obtained in an exam or a course, and (2) one year's education in primary school or middle school. Primary school usually includes five years of education, from grade one to grade five.
middle school
After finishing the fifth grade (the last year of primary school), American children in the American education system will go to middle school. Middle school usually consists of a total of seven years, which is called grade six to grade twelve. Grades 9 to 12 are usually called high schools. After the twelfth grade, American students are awarded a certificate called a high school diploma. In the American education system, students must obtain a high school diploma before being admitted to a college or university. Foreign students who want to enter American colleges or universities must complete courses equivalent to those taught in American high schools. Foreign students who want to attend American high schools need to consider how the high schools they choose can get them into the best universities. You can also learn about some of the best boarding schools for girls and boys in the American education system.
Undergraduate school
Students who have finished high school and want to go to college must go to so-called undergraduate schools. Thes e is a school that offers a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelor's degree) on a specific course of study. That course is called a specialized course. Although most schools offering four-year degrees will admit students who have not yet chosen their major, all students must choose (or announce) their major in the second year. Students who have completed an associate degree can continue their education in a four-year school and eventually complete a bachelor's degree.
research institute
Students with a bachelor's degree can pursue further studies by studying for one of the two degrees. The first is a master's degree. This is usually a two-year degree with high specialization in a specific field. Sometimes, only students who have obtained bachelor's degrees in related fields can be admitted to master's degree programs. However, there are many exceptions, such as students who want to study for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Students who want to further their studies in a specific field can pursue a doctorate, also known as PhD. The doctoral degree may take three to six years to complete, depending on the research courses chosen, the students' abilities and the papers chosen by the students. This paper is a very intensive research paper and must be completed before getting a degree. This is necessary for students studying for doctoral degrees and sometimes for students studying for master's degrees (depending on the school).
In the United States, some courses are offered only in graduate schools. The most famous of them are law, dentistry and medicine. Students who want to get a degree in one of these fields must first get a bachelor's degree.