Education in the United States

Public education at all levels in the US is the responsibility of individual states. Education is provided to all children from the age of 5 to 18 in the public school system. After an optional year in the kindergarten, children enter grade 1 at the age of 6. Education is compulsory until the age of 16. After 6 years in elementary school children go on to junior high( or middle school) and then to high school for another 6 years. The usual plan for dividing schools is: 6 years of elementary school, 3 years of high school, but this plan may be different in different states. Those who complete the full high school programme receive a high school diploma.

The subjects children learn are much the same as in other countries. In most schools History and Geography are taught as one subject, and Literature is taught in classes of English.

Schoolchildren can learn one foreign language for 2 years(Spanish, German, or French). The Americans think that learning how to think independently and problem-solving skills is more important than learning facts. Today there is a strong emphasis on science, mathematics and foreign languages and the knowledge of other people and cultures.

Besides public schools there are private schools which are very expensive, and religious schools which are also free-paying.

About half of the young people today who finish secondary school go on to community colleges which provide two years of higher education at minimal cost. State colleges and universities provide four years of higher education necessary to receive a bachelor`s degree. Fees are different in different states. Besides these, there are many private colleges and universities, which are more expensive than public institutions.