There are different levels of public education in the U.S. Find information about pre-school, elementary school, middle school, and high school. Learn how schools decide the grade and type of class for students new to the USA.
In the United States, the law requires all children to go to school. Elementary, middle, and high school are all free if your child attends public school. The ages of the students for each grade can vary from state to state.
Early childhood education includes daycare and preschool. Ages can vary based on the place you choose to take your child. Daycare can start a few months after a child is born. Preschool can start as early as age 2.
Students attending middle school are around age 11 to 13. It starts with grade 6 and ends with grade 8. Middle school students usually switch from classroom to classroom. They may have different teachers in one school day.
Students attending high school are around age 14 to 18. It starts with grade 9 and ends with grade 12. The classes are arranged by subjects. A student usually has different teachers throughout the day.
After getting a high school diploma, students can go to college. Students need to find a college or university and learn the requirements. You will have to apply and pay tuition. If you need help paying for college or university, there are scholarships for immigrants and refugees.
Students can be split up by their learning level in different classes. This is more common in middle school and high school when students attend classes by subject with different teachers. Some levels of classes are harder and some are easier.
Students may take some tests before the start of the school year or at the very beginning of the school year. The tests might be written or with an adult reading the questions to the student. It can be different depending on the school.
Many refugee students may have missed school while they were in camp or fleeing their country. They may be at different grade levels than a typical American student of the same age. Some students might be at a high-grade level but do not speak English yet. Those students may have trouble in harder classes until they learn English better.
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Primary education in the United States (also called elementary education) refers to the first seven to nine years[1][2] of formal education in most jurisdictions,[3] often in elementary schools, including middle schools. Preschool programs, which are less formal and usually not mandated by law, are generally not considered part of primary education. The first year of primary education is commonly referred to as kindergarten and begins at or around age 5 or 6. Subsequent years are usually numbered being referred to as first grade, second grade, and so forth. Elementary schools normally continue through sixth grade,[4] which the students normally complete when they are age 11 or 12. Some elementary schools graduate after the 4th or 5th grade and transition students into a middle school.
Some private schools, and public schools, are offering pre-kindergarten (also known as pre-K) as part of elementary school. Twelve states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Vermont) as well as the District of Columbia offer some form of universal pre-kindergarten according to the Education Commission of the States (ECS).[6][7]
Since 1965, the federal government has promoted the growth of state-funded programs such as Head Start, a program under the United States Department of Health and Human Services. By 2020, it had served over 37 million preschool-aged children and their families; in fiscal year 2019 alone it served over 1 million children. Head Start also works to educate the whole child in addition to providing health and nutrition services to low-income families.[9]
Elementary schools are schools that span grades K or 1 through 4, 5, or 6. Students may attend either a 4-year, 5-year, 6-year or 7-year public or private elementary school. Upon successful completion of their elementary education students then proceed to middle school, also known as junior high school. Depending on the school district, some students attend separate middle schools, beginning at 6th grade and then completing at 8th grade before they transition to high school, also known as senior high school. Additionally, students may have the option of attending elementary schools that include all eight primary grades. In this case, the student will directly proceed to high school, or senior high school.
In most U.S. elementary schools, a class of students is assigned to a particular teacher and classroom for an entire school year. Those students will spend the vast majority of that school year together in that one classroom learning from that one teacher, and that teacher is expected to carefully supervise their students at all times (apart from lunch and recess). Well-financed schools can hire specialists to provide instruction in specific subject matter like art, music, and science; at such schools, a teacher will hand off their entire class to specialists for such units and then resume supervision of the class afterwards. This is distinct from the course model followed at the middle school, high school, and college levels, in which students enroll in various courses each semester which is usually taught in different classrooms by different teachers, and therefore must move from one classroom to the next during the school day.
Start your journey at CPS by finding the school or program that's right for your child. Chicago students can either attend the general education program of their neighborhood school or apply to attend nearly any school in the city that they are eligible for and that has available seats.
Students in grades K-12 have a guaranteed seat at the general education program in their neighborhood school. No GoCPS application is required. Please reach out to the school directly if you wish to enroll. Pre-K students are not guaranteed a seat in their neighborhood school and should apply through the Chicago Early Learning website.
GoCPS allows families to explore and apply to nearly any CPS school and program through one online platform. Research all of your school and program options, schedule appointments for admissions screenings, submit your application and receive your offers.
Pre-K opportunities provide young children with a strong foundation for future success in school and ignite a lifelong passion for learning through collaborating with families, sharing common goals, and setting high expectations. CPS, the City of Chicago, and their partners offer high-quality preschool and childcare programs at more than 600 sites across the city. Pre-K programs serve children who live in Chicago from birth to age five.
Elementary schools focus on allowing children to develop social skills as well as cognitive and thinking skills. CPS is home to more than 470 elementary schools that offer a wide variety of program options to meet the academic interests of students. Elementary schools serve children who live in Chicago from kindergarten through eighth grade.
High schools offer rigorous curriculum, extracurricular activities, and counseling resources that help students plan and prepare for success in life after graduation. CPS is home to more than 160 high schools that offer a wide variety of program options to meet the academic interests of students. High schools serve children who live in Chicago from ninth through 12th grade. CPS students use the GoCPS enrollment tool to apply to ninth grade. Students applying or transferring to grades 10-12 should contact the school directly.
GoCPS is your platform for exploring and applying to all district and charter high schools, and all district elementary schools. Research all of your school and program options, schedule appointments for admissions screenings, submit your application and receive your offers.
Chicago Early Learning (CEL) provides access to early childhood education options through both CPS and Community-Based programs. Explore high-quality early education options for every child from prenatal through 5 years old in every Chicago neighborhood.
Students who become disengaged from school are highly encouraged to re-engage at their last school of enrollment in order to maintain continuity in the educational setting. If a student or parent decides that the last school of enrollment is not the best fit, CPS provides several pathways for students to explore available options to get back on track to receive their high school diploma.
For students who do not live in permanent housing, attending school and staying on track for their grade can present challenges on many levels and across different areas. CPS provides assistance in removing these barriers to qualified Students in Temporary Living Situations (STLS).
Find the right school for you with our searchable map. View detailed info about a school, including programs and admissions requirements, after school activities, family support services, and school performance reports.
The Georgia School Grades Reports website provides school reports for all public elementary, middle, and high schools in Georgia. The reports include A-F letter grades based on school performance as well as other information about schools, such as performance on state tests, the make-up of the student body, and the graduation rate. The purpose of these reports is to help parents, students, educators, and communities understand how their local schools are performing and focus improvement efforts on the most critical challenges.
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