American Education System
One of the defining attributes of a strong nation is its people, and one attribute that define the people of the nation is education. It is interesting to see how education is done in a nation considered the strongest world power – the United States of America. Not only is America the strongest nation, the boast of its economy is considered as the world’s biggest, not to mention its domination over space technology and research.
The United States of America is a federal government. It is composed of fifty (50) states. These states are represented by a congressman in the federal state congress. Each state has historically valued local governance and enjoys autonomy on its territory. For this, No state-wide education system or curriculum exists in the United States. Each of the fifty states has its own governing Department of Education that sets guidelines for the schools of that state.
The Federal government does not fund these schools but the local governments of the individual states. In the United States compulsory education is mandatory.
American schools are divided into local school districts. School districts are in turn governed by a school board or committee of people appointed by the local government.
The school districts are further divided into elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Elementary school is composed of grades 1-5, Middle school is of grades 6-8 and high school of grades 9-12. The school year will begin in August and ends in June the next year.
Elementary school is a school for young students with ages ranging from 6 years to 11 years. This is where basic subjects are taught. There are about 3 to 4 million children in each grade of the elementary level in the United States. Each grade level is provided with curriculum guidelines and teaching materials suitable to the state’s standards and benchmarks for learning. These standards are in-turn tailored locally from the Federal approved benchmark for all states. Students at this level generally learn Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Music, and Arts.
Middle school caters to students with ages ranging from 11 years to 14 years. Middle school or Junior high school is the intermediate between elementary and high school. Students are expected to take more responsibility for their education and allowed to choose their classes. This level is the start of the critical student life, as grades obtained starting in this level is a factor Colleges or Future employees want to look into.
High school offers grades 9-12 to students aging 14 to 17 years. Furthermore, known as Senior High School is the preparation level for students before entering a university. Students take abroad, variety of classes in any particular subject they want provided that required subjects and corresponding minimum years of study must be taken.
An alternative education system is also available for cases where normal schooling procedure may not be possible. Home school is basically students being taught at home. The teacher may be your parents or other parents and may have fewer students. This system as critics says very problematic.
College or University is the post secondary education level in the United States and commonly consists of four years of study. Graduation or completion in college will earn a student a Bachelor degree. Students apply to receive admission to College, with difficulties of entrance that varies from school to school. Admission criteria include rigor and grades earned in earlier educational levels prior to college, Class ranking, standard test scores. It may also give credits to extracurricular activities, interviews and sports. Once a student is admitted in college, the student must satisfy university requirements in a field of study or major he/she chooses.
After completing a college degree, the student may opt to proceed to an advance study or programs. Graduate study leads to amore advanced degree such as a master’s degree or doctorate degrees.
The United States ranks among the top nations in terms of educational attainment. Among adults at least 85% of Americans completed high school and 35% of Americans holding at least two-year degrees in 2007 surveys second only to Canada.
As a whole the population of the United States is becoming increasingly more educated.