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universi-tea · 7 years

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With so many people from around the world talking about there experiences in school, it can be a little confusing to figure out what it all means. All states have different standards so things can vary a lot, but here’s a general guide to help you figure out what the heck your American friends are talking about.

Read on after the cut to learn more about grade levels, classes, high school, college, and a lot more!

Grade Levels and Ages

Preschool is optional, but many children attend. It teaches basic skills like shapes, colors, and numbers, plus helps to develop social skills and prepare children for school. It often only lasts until lunch, depending on the parent’s schedule.

Kids typically start the first year of school, kindergarten, when they’re five years old.

Grade level + 5 is a pretty good estimation of someone’s age.

K-5th grade is considered elementary school.

6th-8th grade is considered middle school, but 6th grade classes are often still held in an elementary school building.

9th-12th grade is high school

Freshman year = 9th grade, Sophomore = 10th, junior = 11th, and senior = 12th

Types of Schools

Public schools are where the majority of students go. They’re free to attend and government funded, so depending on the funding they vary in quality. These schools do not require uniforms but do have dress codes.

Private schools are, you guessed it, privately funded. Student’s must pay tuition or receive scholarships to attend, and some schools require admittance exams. They may be religion-based, and may also have a more rigorous curriculum. Uniforms (or strict dress codes) are usually, but not always, required.

Charter schools are publicly funded but privately operated. They often act as an alternative to under-performing public schools in the area, and may offer a specialized curriculum.

Magnet schools, much like charter schools, are publicly funded but offer specialized a curriculum which draws students from across districts (like a magnet) to attend. They usually offer a focus in a certain subject, like science, for students with special interests and aptitude for that field.

Home schools, are exactly like they sound. Students learn at home, but still must follow state guidelines for class requirements. A special license is required in order to teach your children at home, and students must take yearly standardized exams to show they are on track. Classes may be taken through special homeschool work books, videos, online, or classes offered at churches, community centers, or colleges.

Schedules

In elementary school, students typically stay in the same classroom with the same teacher for all of their core subjects. They’ll leave to go to recess, gym/PE (physical education), lunch, and sometimes electives like music or art.

Middle and high school classes are taken in seperate classrooms and students get to choose their schedules relatively freely.

The school day typically starts around 8 and ends around 3.

Depending on the school, students may take either four classes for a semester and switch after winter break or eight classes all year.

The same classes meet everyday with these schedules.

There’s also something called block schedule where block ‘A’ will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with block ‘B’ on the others day, and then switch the next week.

Classes

Core classes are considered English, math, science, and social studies. Students are required to have a certain number of classes in each to graduate.

Students are also required to take a certain number of electives, some of which must fit certain requirements like foreign language and fine arts.

Every state is different, but as an example the high school graduation requirements for North Carolina are, as taken from the NC site: 4 credits of English (I,II,III,IV); Foreign Language not required for graduation, but 2 credits required for admission to a state college; 4 credits of math (Algebra I, II, Geometry & one beyond Algebra II), 3 credits of science (A physical science, Biology & Earth/Environmental Science), 4 credits of social sciences (Civics & Economics, World History, American History I and American History II), 1 credit of health/physical education, and 6 elective credits (chosen based on student’s interest and availability at their school).

Especially in high school, students have lots of electives to choose from. Anything from interior design to baking may be offered, depending on the size of the school and funding.

Students may also take advanced placement (AP) classes. They’re more difficult, and last the entire academic year (even if other classes are on a semester schedule). They also count for college credit.

Honors classes are also more rigorous courses, but do not count for college credit.

Students and their advisors choose classes together that fit the student’s future goals.

All classes have some sort of exam at the end of the term.

Grades

GPA (grade point average) is used in high school and colleges. Each grade is given a corresponding number -- 4 for A, 3 for B, 2 for C, 1 for D, and 0 for a failed class (add one point for AP classes). These are averaged together, leaving you with your GPA.

Grading systems vary, but a pretty standard scale is the 10 point. By this, 90-100 points is an A, 80-89 is a B, and so on.

A pretty common question was if it was actually possible to get straight A’s all through high school, and as for grades in the overall class -- totally possible. Not a breeze, but possible. It’s unlikely that someone would make an A on every assignment in every class all four years, but that’s not out of the question either. It all depends on the person!

SAT and ACT

These are standardized tests meant to gauge how well a student will do in their first year of college. They are not the same as end of year exams. different colleges prefer different tests, so students may take one or both, depending on where they're applying. The SAT covers writing, critical reading, and math. The ACT covers English, mathematics, reading, science, with an optional essay.

Extracurricular Activities

Having extracurricular activities that show your interests, talents, and ability to manage your time well is a really important part of college applications. This is why nearly every American student is involved in multiple extracurricular activities.

High school sports can lead to college scholarships, which is why they’re a popular option. If you’re really talented, colleges may recruit you and give you a ‘full ride’ (pay all of your tuition) to get you to play for them.

Other popular activities are special interest clubs, yearbook, choir, debate, after school jobs, and volunteering.

College

College is the term used conversationally for what is called ‘university’ in most other countries.

Community or junior colleges allow students to earn an Associate’s (two year) degree for a much lower cost.

Traditional four-year colleges typically have “university” in their title, and students earn their Bachelor’s degree from these.

After undergrad (earning a bachelor’s degree), some students go to grad school. For professions in the medical and law field, students must go to med or law school right after graduating because, well, would you want a 22 year old doctor?

For other fields, grad school ranges from basically required to find a job to totally unnecessary.

Programs can take anywhere from two (master’s) to five or more for a doctorate degree.

In college, students will always have a major and often have a minor.

A major is your major field of study, which will usually be listed on your degree (ie, major in biology to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology), though sometimes a more general department (major in advertising for a Bachelor of Art in Communications) will be listed instead. All schools and programs are different as far as what will be listed on a student’s degree.

A minor is another area of interest which is used to fill other hour requirements for graduation. This will not be listed on the degree, and may either support and help refine a major (fine arts minor + elementary education major = art teacher), or may just be to explore interests outside of a student’s field. Minors are not required at all schools or in all programs; students may choose to double major or simply take independent electives to fill hour requirements instead.

At many schools, students aren’t required to declare a major until their junior (third) year. The first two years of classes are typically general education, like math and English, that are required for all degrees.

Hopefully that cleared up some of your questions, and if you have any more I would be happy to help!

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