The high school education system in the United States is unique
compared with secondary education in other countries. U.S. law requires
students to attend school, but each state has different laws regarding
how long students must attend. In some states, students have to go to
school until the age of 16, while others require students to attend
until they are 18. In most cases, the length of time students are in high school is determined by how the local school district has divided the students' grades. Some districts divide the high school into tenth through twelfth grade while other districts begin high school in eighth or ninth grade.
Students can attend a private or public high school. Private schools charge students tuition to attend, and some have a religious affiliation. According to the Public School Review Web site, private schools have competitive admission, because they are not required to accept every student who applies. Also, students at private schools don't have to meet the state requirements to graduate. The school decides what courses and programs the student needs to graduate. Private school teachers don't have to be certified by the state to teach. As long as they meet the schools' conditions, they can teach.
Public schools receive most of their money from state and local taxes. According to Public School Review, public high schools have to provide a free education for every student. At public high schools, students must meet requirements set by the state in which the student resides. This can include a minimum number of credits, a minimum grade point average, and a state-approved test to ensure the student has learned the basic skills needed to graduate. Public school teachers must have certification from the state. They need a college degree and a state license to be able to teach.
High school students planning to go to a four-year college take classes that will prepare them for college, and high schools tell students the basic requirements needed to get into college. Colleges usually want students who have taken courses in math, history, science, language arts, and foreign language.
“They (college admissions) want the kids to take as many challenging courses as they can take,” said Pat Croner, an independent college counselor from California.
The Web site for the Department of Education has a chart with the recommended general course requirements that most colleges want students to have. Colleges have specific entrance requirements, but in general each college wants students with similar attributes. Students can contact the school they are interested in attending to learn what the specific requirements are for that school.
In the United States, students can get ahead by taking Advanced Placement (AP) or postsecondary classes. Students may choose from many AP subjects, and at the end of the class, a test is administered. If a student receives a high score, that student's college might award credit. Postsecondary classes are taken at the college. This option provides the student a glimpse into a college course, and the student receives high school and college credit; that way, two requirements are fulfilled at once. Also, some school districts will pay for their students to take postsecondary classes.
Croner says AP and postsecondary courses have a demanding curriculum. She says the teachers are specialists and have a passion for what they are teaching, so students get more from the experience. Students who want to learn more about AP and postsecondary courses should contact local colleges and the guidance counselor at their school to see what their options are.
