School system in the USA (0)

School system in the USA
Education in the United States is provided by government. Each of the 50 states has its own laws regulating education. Children start school at the age of 5 or 6 and continue until the age of 18. Primary or grade school starts from the first grade up to the sixth grade. Then students attend middle school also called junior high school for three years . After middle school, students attend secondary schools , which are called "high schools" from ninth to twelfth grades. The idea of secondary school is to get a high school diploma. Students should take on average 17 or over 20 units during their studies. Public schools are free of charge and available for everybody . To which school a child attends is determined by where they live .
Primary school
American children start school at the age of five . The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is obligatory for all American children enrolled in the American education system. The second year at school is considered the first year of primary school and is referred to as first grade. Primary school most commonly consists of five years of education. Marks in most US schools are A, B, C, D, and F with an A being excellent and an F being failure
Secondary school
After completing the fifth grade the last year of primary school, American children start secondary school. Secondary school usually consists of seven years, from the sixth grade up to twelfth grade. The ninth through twelfth grades are most commonly known as high school. After completing the twelfth grade, American students are given a certificate called the high school diploma. That is why most students take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) which is a national college entrance examination. The results will assure whether a person will attend a univercity or college and it is up to universities to decide which students to accept .
Foreign students who would like to attend an American college or university must have completed coursework that is equivalent to what is taught in an American high school. Foreign students who would like to attend an American high school, need to consider how  the high school they select will give them access to the best colleges.
Undergraduate school
Students who have completed high school and would like to attend college or university must attend as an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree called an associate degree or a four -year degree called a bachelors degree in a specific course of study . That course of study is called the major . While most schools that offer a four-year degree will admit students who have not yet chosen a major, all students are required to select a major by their second year at school. Students who complete an associate degree can continue their education at a four-year school and eventually complete a bachelor degree.
Graduate school
Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees. The first is a master’s degree. This is usually a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a specific field . Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a doctorate degree, also called a PhD. A PhD degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student , and the thesis that the student has selected. The thesis is a very intensive research paper that must be completed prior to earning the degree. It is always required that students pursue a PhD, or sometimes be required of students pursuing a master’s degree (depending on the school).
Certain courses of study are only available at the graduate school level in America. The most notable of these are law and medicine . Students who want to pursue a degree in one of these fields must first obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Boarding school
The United States boasts some of the top boarding schools around . There are excellent girls boarding schools and boys boarding schools for all needs and ages . There are elite top private boarding schools as well as more affordable boarding school options. There are Christian boarding schools and boarding schools for troubled teens. Some boarding schools offer the option to be a day student without boarding while offering the same quality boarding school education.
Universities
Universities are quite expensive with prices rising every year. Public university can cost around $6,000 to $10,000 in tuition alone with housing, books , and other academic necessities costing much more. The academic school year usually runs from September to June with an optional summer quarter which is another expense. Private university is much more expensive with tuition costing somewhere between $20,000 and even up to $50,000 annually. Scholarships and financial aid help students attend the university of their choice , but most students must take loans to complete their education.
Level/Grade
Typical age
Preschool
Kinderkarten
5-6
Elementary school
1st - 5th Grade
6-11
Middle Shool
6th – 8th Grade
11-14
High School
9th – 12 th Grade
14-18
Post-secondary education College or university
18+