In most U.S. schools, the school year begins in late August and lasts from 170 to 186 days. Weekends and vacations vary from state to state. The most common vacations during the school year are usually Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Schooling in America promotes self-discipline, responsibility, independent thinking, and leadership. Teachers help students develop analytical skills, teach them to make decisions for themselves, defend their views, and apply their knowledge to real life. The spirit of freedom is one of the great hallmarks of American schools.
In an American school children study for 12 years – from 5-6 to 17-18. The enrollment age for international students is determined by each school. In some cases, children are accepted from age 7, but few parents are willing to send a child abroad at that age. Therefore, as a rule, children of middle (13-14 years) or high (16 years) school age arrive.
Structure of secondary education in the United States
School year:
1st Tuesday in September through June 24.
Workload:
5 days a week, 6-8 hours with a lunch break
Vacation:
- 4 days in November for Thanksgiving
- December 24th to January 3rd for Christmas
- 3rd week of February
- 1st week of April
- 2 months in summer
The American school system has three main levels. Each level is a completely separate institution housed in a separate building. Children study compulsory subjects in the elementary grades, but secondary school students add a few electives. In high school, kids can choose the disciplines they need when applying to university. There is no classroom instructor in America, just as there is no class, but each student is assigned a faculty advisor who advises students on classes, schedules, career guidance, and placement in universities.
Elementary School
Years 5-11 (grades 0-5)
Elementary schools are divided into 5 or 6 grades, depending on the state. Pre-Kindergarten (kindergarten) is for children 5 years old. Students from other countries may enroll in elementary school if the child lives in the United States with a parent or guardian.
In the first two years of American elementary school, there is no strict discipline or academic rigor: children can walk around the classroom, sit on the floor, read colorful books, and talk in a circle on the floor. Tasks are offered in a free form. For example, after a walk, toddlers are asked to draw what they saw green; older children can write a mini essay about a bug that crawled up a tree in the schoolyard. By fifth grade, children are moved to single-seat desks, and lessons become more structured.
In elementary school, one teacher teaches the core academic subjects – writing, reading, basic math, and the world around us – while other teachers pick up the kids for creative, music, and sports lessons.
Middle School
11-14 years old (Grades 6-8)
In America, middle school students have their own teachers for each subject, and students have some freedom in choosing which subjects to study.
The core subjects are math, English, science (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy – science), history, physical education, and creative arts. Students choose one or two subjects of their choice. Most often these are computer technology, cooking, a foreign language or art.
Also in middle school there is an opportunity to choose a more challenging subject program. To do this, you need to get an excellent grade in it in the previous year. From the 7th grade you can take an advanced level of mathematics and English. In the 8th grade – also natural and social sciences. The advanced classes have a more intensive program with challenging assignments and more information for independent study.
In addition, a system of credits is introduced in high school. For the study of 1 subject for 1 year is given 5 credits, and for the disciplines that last for 1 semester – 2.5 credits. These credits count toward a university entrance requirement.
High School
14-18 years old (grades 9-12)
In high school, students are given greater freedom to choose subjects and levels of study.
Compulsory units:
- 2 years of math;
- 4 years of English;
- 2 years of science (with laboratory work);
- 3 years of social studies;
- 1 year of physical education;
- 1 year of art course.
Each discipline includes a number of sub-disciplines that a student can take individually or as a whole: for example, mathematics includes courses in geometry, algebra, trigonometry, the beginnings of analysis, statistics, and other sections; the social sciences group includes U.S. history, world history, political science, psychology, sociology, etc.
The kids also choose elective classes:
- music;
- foreign languages;
- Basics of Healthy Lifestyle;
- business fundamentals;
- Public speaking, and others.
In high school students take the SAT or ACT, tests that test general knowledge in math, language, logic, and critical thinking.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Beginning in 9th grade some subjects may be studied in more depth at the AP level. More often than not, students choose courses they wish to major in at university.
There are 38 subjects taught at the AP level in the United States. Among them are:
- art history;
- macroeconomics;
- Microeconomics;
- psychology;
- music theory;
- Latin;
- programming;
- Eastern and European cultures.
AP scores give you an advantage for admission to 90% of universities in the USA, Canada, and more than 50 other countries. However, to qualify, scores on exams in selected AP subjects must be higher than 3.5 out of 5.
In 2014, there is a new program with an emphasis on research, AP Capstone. It consists of two courses: seminars (AP Seminar) and research (AP Research).
The most prestigious universities do not consider certificates with a grade point average below 4.25, and that grade cannot be obtained without AP Advanced Placement courses.
