How to Understand School Models in Use in American Public Education Washington DC

Steps

1. Know that public school in the USA typically spans 13 years, and that each year of school is referred to as a grade. Children tend to begin in kindergarten and end school after the twelfth grade.
2. Be aware that public school preschool programs are becoming more and more common, such that some children will enter school at the age of three or four for preschool. Otherwise, the age to begin is set at five, although each state will have its own rules about when during the school year that fifth birthday must occur if the child is to be accepted for entrance to kindergarten.
3. Know that school attendance is compulsory only through the age of sixteen (in most states). No matter what grade a child has attained at this age, the child may leave school if so desired.
4. Understand that most school systems follow this pattern:
   • Elementary school
     • Kindergarten
     • FirstGrade
     • Second Grade
     • Third Grade
     • Fourth Grade
     • Fifth Grade
   • Middle school
     • Sixth Grade
     • Seventh Grade
     • Eighth Grade
   • High school
     • Ninth Grade (Freshman Year)
     • Tenth Grade (Sophomore Year)
     • Eleventh Grade (Junior Year)
     • Twelfth Grade (Senior Year)
5. Know about the exceptions. Some smaller communities still have K-12 schools, where all grades are contained within one school building. Others follow a K-5 Elementary School/6-12 Junior/Senior High School model. In very rare cases, you will find a Primary School, which covers grades K-3, with an Upper Elementary taking children in Grades 4-5.

Tips

• If you are hoping to understand the grading system used in a book or movie from an earlier time period,you may be seeing a system which looks more like this:
  1. • Elementary school
       • Kindergarten
       • FirstGrade
       • Second Grade
       • Third Grade
       • Fourth Grade
       • Fifth Grade
       • Sixth Grade
     • Junior High school
       • Seventh Grade
       • Eighth Grade
     • High school
       • Ninth Grade (Freshman Year)
       • Tenth Grade (Sophomore Year)
       • Eleventh Grade (Junior Year)
       • Twelfth Grade (Senior Year)
• Note that in some regions of the country (for example, most of Washington state) this system is still commonly used.

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