Education in the United States development of school system

Has been an important Factor in the economic development of the United States and in the achievement of a high standard of living for most Americans. In the early 1800s the idea of free public schools began to gain widespread support in the country. State and local governments took the responsibility for establishing public school systems. By 1918, every state had laws requiring children to attend school until they reached a certain age or completed a certain grade. About 90% of American schools, elementary and high schools and about half of its institutions of higher learning, are free and public. Most of them are co-educational. The rest are fee-charging private schools, mostly Roman Catholic parochial schools.

Private schools are mostly single-sex schools.

American education comprises three levels: elementary education, there are about 79000 Schools in the USA secondary education, there are about 29000 High Schools higher education, there are about 3000 colleges, universities, and community or junior colleges in the country. Schooling is compulsory from the ages of 5 to 16. There are several structural patterns in use, depending on the location: - 6-3-3 plan: Elementary School: grades 1-6; Junior High School: grades 7-9; Senior High School: grades 10-12; - 8-4 plan: Elementary School: grades 1-8; High School; grades 9-12; - 6-6 plan: Elementary School: grades 1-6; High School; 7-12; All plans lead to high school graduation at about 17 to 18 years of age. Many American children begin their schooling before enrolling in first grade. More than 80 per cent of all 5-year-olds attend Kindergarten. The word Kindergarten is the same as in German. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION is intended for children from the ages of 6 to 12 or 14. They are usually public and co-educational. About 98 per cent of all U. S. children complete elementary school. SECONDARY EDUCATION comprises either 4 years or 6 years. The six-year High School is divided up into a Junior and a Senior High School. The American High School offers educational facilities for all children aged 12/14-17 It shows best the equality tendency of American education by making children of all social classes attend the same type of school as long as possible. It is a Comprehensive School which mirrors the American ideals of equal opportunities and equality of social status and serves. The basic problem of US High School education is whether it should provide vocational or general education.

Therefore all larger High Schools offer a number of different programmes: - The academic curriculum prepares children for college; the basics for High School graduation requirements are English, mathematics, science, social studies, computer science and a foreign language if students go on college. - Commercial classes include typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. - Vocational ...