Education in the United States

K-12 ("kay twelve", or "kay through twelve", "kay to twelve") is a designation for the sum of primary and secondary education. The expression is a shortening of Kindergarten through 12th grade (or grade 12), the first and last grades of free education in the United States.

K-14 education also includes Community Colleges (or the first two years of University) and K-16 education adds a four-year undergraduate University degree.

Preschool

The first year at school (begins with children at the age of five or six) is called kindergarten. There are no mandatory public kindergarten programs in the United States.

Elementary School

Elementary school is a school of first through fifth grades (usually six to eleven years old).

Junior and Senior High School

Junior high school is any school intermediate between elementary school and senior high school. It usually includes six and eighth grade. The ninth through twelfth (commonly called freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior) grades are most commonly referred to as senior high school.

Upon completion of twelfth grade, American students are awarded a certificate called the high school diploma. Students must have a high school diploma before they are admitted into college or university.

Public high schools are operated by the government, financed by public funds, and are free to all students, even foreigners. Private high schools are financed by private funds and are operated by private individuals. Private schools tuition charge varying rates depending on geographic location, the school's expenses, and the availability of funding from sources.

Undergraduate School

These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (Associate degree) or a four-year degree (Bachelors degree) in a field of concentration known as a major. Like high school, the four undergraduate grades are commonly called freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years (alternately called first year, second year, etc.).

Some students choose to attend a Community College for two years prior transfer to a four-year College or University for the last two years. The tuition for associate degree programs at Community Colleges is typically much less than at a four-year College or University. Community Colleges may award Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree after two years.

University awards the bachelor's degrees, which could be a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.).

Annual undergraduate tuition varies widely from school to school, and many additional fees apply. Depending upon the type of school and program, annual tuition can vary from $25,000 to as high as $40,000. Note that these prices do not include living expenses, books, supplies, health insurance, room and board, etc...

Graduate School

Students who have a bachelor's degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees:

• Master's degree, which could be a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA). Masters degree is a graduate school degree that typically requires two years of full-time graduate school coursework to complete.
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree typically takes between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student, and the thesis that the student has selected. The thesis is a very long, extensive, and original research paper that is a requirement for completing the PhD program. Other doctoral degree, such as Doctor of Education, Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Physical Therapy.

For more information about the Education in the United States. You can visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

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