Secondary education in the United States

Secondary education in the United States, better known as high school, is one level of the national educational system. Secondary education generally consists of grades nine through twelve and is only available to students who have successfully completed previous grades. This level of education may take place at public or private schools. At these schools, students take an array of courses, both mandatory and elective, designed to prepare them for higher education and/or their prospective careers. Upon successful completion of secondary education, most students receive a diploma at a commencement ceremony.

Background

The US educational system has a long history. It began in colonial times when schools were mainly religious institutions. Later, access to general secular education improved among the public. Science became increasingly important in the nineteenth century, and in the twentieth century, schools added more focus on social studies. In the twenty-first century, multiculturalism and technology are major topics in education.

Formal education in the United States occurs in public, private, and charter schools. Public schools are run by the government and open to all students. There is no cost for enrollment, as most expenses are covered by taxes. Public schools are coeducational. They are mainly run and funded by state and local governments, but the federal government holds some responsibilities. For instance, it may provide financial aid to schools or students, monitor school progress and success rates, protect students from unfair state or local practices, and help to craft national educational agendas.

Approximately 10 percent of US students attend private schools. These schools are mainly funded by enrollment fees and have fewer governmental restrictions. Many private schools focus on religious lessons, and some offer only single-sex instruction. In many cases, private schools offer more advanced courses, smaller class sizes, and more teacher attention.

Charter high schools began in the early 1990s as part of a broader school reform movement aimed at increasing educational choice and accountability. Like public schools, they are funded by the federal and state governments based on enrollment. However, unlike traditional public schools, charter schools are independently operated, often with greater flexibility in curriculum, teaching methods, and management, in exchange for accountability for performance. This autonomy allows charter schools to innovate but also means they can face more scrutiny and are often held to specific performance standards set by their charter agreements. About 8 percent of all US high school students attend charter schools.

As the educational system developed and became mandatory, it divided schools into several tiers. The youngest students attend early childhood educational programs. They then proceed to primary (or elementary) school and then middle (or junior-high) school. Successful graduates of middle school proceed to secondary school, more commonly known as high school. From there, graduates have the option of pursuing postsecondary levels of education, such as career schools, technical schools, colleges, or universities.

Overview

In the United States, students usually begin secondary school, or high school, at the approximate age of fourteen years. Students are eligible for secondary school after successfully completing elementary and middle schools. Secondary schools are generally much larger than the schools of prior levels, as they frequently combine students from several towns or cities. Some secondary schools may serve thousands of students each year. Secondary education generally lasts for four years, from grades nine through twelve.

Secondary education offers students a wide variety of courses. Some are core courses, meaning they are mandatory for all students. Core courses generally cover a range of basic topics such as math, language, science, social studies, physical education, and health. State education boards determine the exact courses considered mandatory for students in each state.

Once core requirements are satisfied, students can generally choose elective, or optional, courses. These courses may support a student's career aspirations or personal interests. Elective courses also vary by school. Some may offer lessons in world languages, business management, computer technologies, or visual or performing arts.

Other courses in secondary education may be categorized into tracks. Students enter certain tracks depending on their academic performance and/or their ultimate educational and career goals. For instance, some tracks offer students more challenging classes in different subjects to prepare students for the rigors of college or university programs. Other tracks offer students a lighter academic load combined with lessons about specific trades, such as culinary arts or automotive repair.

Most secondary schools offer at least three specific tracks. The basic track is known as the general high-school diploma track. This track allows students to meet state criteria for high-school graduates. Vocational diploma tracks combine the general track with additional classes relating to career skills, as well as any additional academic courses needed to supplement those career skills. Finally, academic preparatory diploma tracks provide students with an extra level of academic preparation to exceed state requirements. Students in this track usually take more advanced and challenging courses in math, language, and science. However, these tracks can vary by state, some having more specific track offerings, like music or art tracks, while others have broader tracks like general and advanced.

Career planning is an important feature of secondary education for all students. Secondary schools offer career counseling for students of all grades. This counseling is intended to help students discover their interests and likeliest paths toward eventual employment. Information from counseling sessions may help to select tracks and choose electives that most closely apply to a student's personal interests and needs. Career counseling services may include personal career testing and discussion as well as events such as career fairs. Students will likely continue learning about careers through high school and beyond.

Although the basic role of secondary school is to provide academic and career education, schools are also important for their extracurricular offerings. Many schools encourage students to join teams and participate in after-school activities such as clubs and sports. Team sports are increasingly popular in the United States. Other activities common to secondary schools are bands, drama classes, and art and language clubs. Many schools have newspaper, yearbook, and audio-visual clubs that may produce material for other students. Although these activities are optional, they may add greatly to students' social lives, resumes, and future endeavors.

Students who meet or exceed requirements, including passing state and local exams, graduate from secondary school following twelfth grade. Graduation is typically marked with a commencement ceremony and the distribution of diplomas to the departing students. Students who do not complete secondary school may be eligible to take a General Educational Development (GED) test through which they may earn a degree equivalent to a high-school diploma.

Bibliography

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