Schools in the USA.
There are three types of schools: public
schools, private schools, and home schools. Most students attend public
schools. These schools are run by the government of a city. The citizens of the
city pay taxes to pay for the school buildings, teachers’ salaries and
equipment and supplies for the schools. All citizens of the community must pay
taxes to support the schools. Public schools are usually large. The families
who want their children to attend private schools must pay tuition. Tuition
payments pay for the teachers’ salaries and for buildings and equipment.
Private schools are usually smaller than public schools. Some families choose
not to send their children to school at all. They educate their children at
home. In a home school, the mother and father and children work together to
complete academic courses and to learn many life skills. Home schooners believe
that children learn best at home and that parents are the teachers for their
own children.
Students who attend public and private schools
usually begin their formal education when they are six years old and continue
for at least twelve years. Grades 1-5 make up the elementary school. Middle
school consists of grades 6-8. High school is grades 9-12. When students have
completed the 12th grade, they receive a high school diploma. At
this point, students may end their formal education, or they may go college. In
college the student will eventually specialize in one area of study, such as
mathematics, science, history, literature, theology, or foreign language. At
the end of four years, he or she will earn a Bachelor degree. The student who
wants to continue his or her education after may enter graduate school and work
to earn a Master’s degree or a doctoral degree. A student may also elect to
enter a professional school to prepare to be a doctor, dentist, or lawyer.