I dont get the american school system?

Question

in the U.K you start at primary school from year 1 to year 6 and then go onto high school from year 7 to year 11 after that you go onto college for 2/3 years and if prefered you go to university for a degree.
so how is the American system

Answer 1

In the US, students go to school for 12 years before going to University. Each school district is slightly different. Some have grammar school from first through sixth grade, Junior High School from seventh to ninth grade and three years of high school. Others have grammar school from first through fifth grade, three years of Middle School and four years of High School.

Americans use the words "College" and "University" interchangeably -- though when pressed, we will admit that there is a slight difference.

Most people get a Bachelor's Degree in college (at university to you). This usually takes four years. Graduate and professional degrees are similar to the UK system.

There are a few differences. In the UK, one can get a law degree as an undergraduate. In the US, it is a graduate degree that usually takes three years. Medicine is also a graduate program in the US (MD).

Answer 2

Not all school systems are the same, any differences are only by a year, though; this is what I went through:

You start with kindergarten at 4 or 5 (this is typically half-day, but starting to move towards full day).
Then, there are 5 years of elementary school, followed by 3 years of middle school or junior high, then 4 years of high school. Grades are 1 through 12, 1 being the year after kindergarten and 12 being the last year of school.

Afterwards, many people go on to college; usually a 2-year associate's degree or a 4-year bachelor's degree.

Answer 3

There is a preschool (3 and 4 yr olds) Kindergarten - 5 yr olds, and then 1-5th- elementary school (basic reading, writing math). 6th- 8th grade- middle school/ junior high. A little more focus (different teachers for different subjects, more time spent on one subject).
9th grade- 12th grade (14 yrs-18yrs) is high school.

College: 18 yrs and up- there are 2 year colleges for simple degrees and 4-5 yr undergraduate universities for higher learning degrees (ones that you need a bachelor of science or arts for). After that, there is a possible masters degree (2-3 yrs) where you work on a specific topic, trying to become an expert, and a pHd (4-5 yrs) for very specialized training.

For instance, I am going for veterinary science. I am almost done with 5 yrs of undergraduate studies with two areas of focus (Wildlife and Biology). Next, I have 4-5 years to get my doctorate (which is actually different than both the masters and pHd program, but along similar lines). So basically, after the time I was 18 yrs, I will be in school until I am 27ish.

Answer 4

Kindergarten and 1st through 4th, 5th or 6th is primary. (Or you can go to K somewhere else.) But, some middle schools start with 5th and some with 6th. If they start with 7th and only have 7th and 8th it is called a Jr High. Middle and Jr highs are called secondary, along with High school, which can be 9-12 (most common) or any variation of the secondary school grades. You get a High School Diploma. Then there are Junior Colleges (2 year) and 4 year colleges. Or technical colleges (2 year). You get an Associate Degree for 2 years and a Bachelor Degree for 4. After that you can also get a Master's after 2 more years, or go to medical school. And on to PhD if you are really in love with school.
It is very confusing and each district is individualized for the grades of primary and secondary.

Answer 5

Preschool (age 4) then kindergarten (age 5). Grades 1 through 6 (age 6 through 11), onto middle school grades 7 and 8 then high school grades 9-12. College 4 to 5 years depending on major.

Answer 6

We go to elementary school for kindergarten and grades 1-5 or 6, middle school from grades 6-8 or just 7 and 8, and high school for grades 9-12. Then you can go to college. A standard Bachelor's degree takes 4 years to earn. You can also earn 2-year Associate's degrees or you can get a Master's or a Ph.D. after a Bachelor's.

Answer 7

We have Kindergarden for young kids, then grades 1 - 5 are elementary school, 6-8 are middle school, and 9 -12 are highschool. College is usually 4 years, some are 3, and some have programs that are 5-7 years (medicine)... Its kinda similar but our colleges are not as concentrated on the major as yours, we get a bit broader background in the 4 years as well as more on the basics we learned in K-12 (foreign languages, math, history...)

Answer 8

In the American system, you start Kindergarten at age 5 and go to primary (grade, parochial, grammar) school up through grade 8. Then comes high school which you start at age 13 or 14. It lasts four years (the levels are named the same as they are in college: Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior). Then comes college or university (the words are used pretty interchangeable here.)

Some people go to Pre-School before Kindergarten (I didn't). Some people call the upper grade/parochial/grammar school levels "middle school". Beyond undergrad is grad school for things like a M.A. or Ph. D. which I'm guessing is similar to the U.K. system.

Answer 9

Here in the U.S., elementary school can start as early as K-4, which is nothing more than free babysitting paid for by the government! Now, I'll admit, some kids will learn their ABC's and numbers, but most go to play, which is what should be done when you're 4 years old!

It's just weird to me, too!

Answer 10

Preschool: Ages three and four.
Kindergarten: Age five
First through fifth grade (Elementary School) ages six through 10.
Sixth thru eight grade (Junior High or Middle School): Ages 11 thru 13.
Ninth thru Twelfth grade (High School): Ages 14 thru 18.

Then if you choose, college.