Educational System in USA

Education in the United States ( America )

Education in the United States is provided mainly by government, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. School attendance is mandatory and nearly universal at the elementary and high school levels (often known outside the United States as the primary and secondary levels). At these levels, school curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies are set through locally elected school boards with jurisdiction over school districts. School districts are usually separate from other local jurisdictions, with independent officials and budgets. Educational standards and standardized testing decisions are usually made by state governments.

The age for beginning school is mandated by state law and therefore varies slightly from state to state, but in general children are required to begin school with a one-year Kindergarten class during the year in which they turn 4 or 5. They are required to continue attending school until the age of 16 to 18, depending on the state, with a growing number of states now requiring school attendance until the age of 18. Some states have exemptions for those 14-18.

Students may attend public schools, private schools, or homeschool. In most public and private schools, education is divided into three levels: elementary school, junior high school (also often called middle school), and senior high school. In almost all schools at these levels, children are divided by age groups into grades, ranging from Kindergarten (followed by first grade) for the youngest children in elementary school, up to twelfth grade, which is the final year of high school. The exact age range of students in these grade levels varies slightly from area to area.

Post-secondary education, better known as "college" or "university" in the United States, is generally governed separately from the elementary and high school system, and is described in a separate section below.
 

 

Memorial Hall at Harvard College

In the year 2000, there were 76.6 million students enrolled in schools from kindergarten through graduate schools. Of these, 72 percent aged 12 to 17 were judged academically "on track" for their age (enrolled in school at or above grade level). Of those enrolled in compulsory education, 5.2 million (10.4 percent) were attending private schools. Among the country's adult population, over 85 percent have completed high school and 27 percent have received a bachelor's degree or higher. The average salary for college or university graduates is $45,400, exceeding the national average by more than $10,000, according to a 2002 study by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The country has a reading literacy rate at 98% of the population over age 15, while ranking below average in science and mathematics understanding. The poor performance has pushed public and private efforts such as the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, the ratio of college-educated adults entering the workforce to general population (33%) is slightly below the mean of other developed countries (35%) and rate of participation of the labor force in continuing education is high. However, a recent study showed that "A slightly higher proportion of American adults qualify as scientifically literate than European or Japanese adults".  ( Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States ) 
 

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: Most secondary schools use a grading system consisting of the Roman Alphabet letters A, B, C, D, sometimes E and F, with the letter I meaning "incomplete". These letters are linked to numerical grade scores. There is no national regulation on grading systems.

Highest on scale: A (Excellent)

Pass/fail level: D (Marginal)

Lowest on scale: F (Failure)

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: Many institutions employ either a letter grading system similar to that described for secondary school linked to a numerical system based upon points earned. The latter system is typically based on a five-, four-, or three-point scale. Some institutions do not use grades or provide them only upon request. Grading systems are determined by each institution.

Highest on scale: A, 4.0 (Excellent)

Pass/fail level: C, 2.0 (Marginal)

Lowest on scale: D or F, 1.0 or below (Failure)

Other main grading systems

Advanced research studies (Masters theses, Doctoral dissertations), practica and projects or presentations in the fine or performing arts are often not assigned letter or numerical grades but rather evaluated on an "honours", "pass", or "fail" basis by the supervising faculty.

INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Research Universities

Doctorate-Granting Universities

Master's (Comprehensive) Universities and Colleges

Baccalaureate (Liberal Arts) Colleges

Associate of Arts Colleges

Professional Schools and Other Specialized Institutions

Postsecondary Vocational and Technical Schools

School leaving and higher education credentials:

High School Diploma

Associate Degree

Certificate

Bachelor's Degree

Diploma

Education Specialist

First Professional Degree

Post-Bachelor's Diploma

Master's Degree

Certificate of Advanced Study

Doctorate

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Structure of school system:

Pre-Primary

Type of school providing this education: A) Kindergarten B) Nursery Schools C) Preschool programmes; D) Child/day Care Centres

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 4 to: 6

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Certificates may be given, especially if needed, to prove attendance for entry into Elementary School.

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Elementary School (Grades 1-4)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 6 to: 10

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Awards may be given in States/Districts when necessary for transition to Middle School.

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Elementary Schools (Grades 1-5)

Length of program in years: 5

Age level from: 6 to: 11

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Awards may be given in States/Districts when necessary for transition to Middle School

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Elementary Schools (Grades 1-6)

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 6 to: 12

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Awards may be given in States/Districts when necessary for transition to Secondary School.

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Elementary Schools (Grades 1-7)

Length of program in years: 7

Age level from: 6 to: 14

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Awards may be given in States/Districts when necessary for transition to Junior High or Secondary School.

Middle

Type of school providing this education: Middle Schools (Grades 4-6, 5-7 or 6-8)

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 10 to: 14

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Awards may be given in States/Districts where middle school is a recognized level.

Secondary

Type of school providing this education: High Schools (Grades 7-12 or 8-12)

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 13 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: High School Diploma (Regular/Standard, Vocational, Honor/Regents, College Preparatory)

Junior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Junior High Schools (Grades 7-8, 7-9 or 8-9)

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 13 to: 15

Certificate/diploma awarded: Practice varies. Awards may be given in States/Districts where secondary education is divided into lower and upper divisions.

Upper Secondary

Type of school providing this education: High Schools, Senior High Schools (Grades 9-12 or 10-12)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: High School Diploma (Regular/Standard, Vocational, Honor/Regents, College Preparatory)

School education:

Concerning the age of entry to compulsory education in the U.S., it varies, according to the state, between 5 and 7 years of age, 6 being the most common; the age of exit varies between 16 and 18 years of age, the most common being 16. Secondary education in the U.S. occurs in grades 7-12, depending upon the laws and policies of states and local school districts.

Higher education:

Higher education in the U.S. is also called postsecondary education. It is not divided into different sectors (university, non-university, etc.) as are some other national systems and it is a diverse and autonomous community of publicly and privately supported institutions.

( http://www.globaled.us/wwcu/background/United-States.htm ) 

Higher Education in the USA

List of Universities in America

Graduate Study in the USA

Student Visa

Work Permit