EDUCATION IN THE USA

EDUCATION IN THE U.S.A.

GENERAL INFORMATION

-School starts usually at 8.30 or 9a.m. and finishes at 3.30p.m.

-School week from Monday to Friday

-public schools provide books =>students don´t have to buy them

-official state school education starts at the age of 6

-nursery school at the ages of 3 and 4

Elementary School:

6 years; children learn: basic skills of reading, speaking, writing and ´maths´

age: 6-12

grade: 1-6

Junior High School:

2 years;

age:12-14

grade:7-8

High School:

age:14-18

grade:9-12

....Comprehensive High School:

most common; offers general academic courses and specialised subjects(mainly for students who want to go to University)

..Specialised High Schools:

-agricultural schools

-business schools

-commercial schools

-trade schools

-vocational schools

In most American High Schools ´core´ subjects are studied (= the most important: English, Maths, Science, History and a foreign language)

The students can also choose from ´electives´ (optional subjects) for their own interests (arts, music, computer studies etc.)

For the completion of each course they get credits, which are essential for their high-school-diploma.

Graduation: A ceremony takes place where the students receive their diplomas. They wear caps and gowns and their family is invited.

THE AMERICAN GRADING SYSTEM

The teachers use a point system. The more points a student has, the better his/her grades are.

The grades range from A to F (failure).

The student´s grades of each semester are added up and a Grade Point Average is calculated. The higher it is at the end of school, the greater the student´s chances will be for getting a good job or college place.

To get a good job or into a good college it´s also appreciated if you have done extra-curricular activities during your school-time. This means: having played for a school´s sports-team (American football, Baseball, Athletics, Cheerleading.).

AMERICAN SCHOOLS

(see "Make your Way"5, page35)

At High school the students are called:

freshman = >9^th grade

sophomore = >10^th grade

junior = > 11^th grade

senior = > 12^th grade

HIGHER EDUCATION

America has about 3000 public and private Universities .

-independent from each other

-high academic reputation (best libraries and research facilities)

-high tuition fees (=>part time jobs)

´Ivy League´ : group of the best and most expensive Universities (Yale, Harvard, Princeton etc.)

To get into a good University, students have to do a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The better their result, the higher the chance of getting into a good University.

PROBLEMS OF OUR TIMES

Main problem: multi-culturalism

In America a wide variety of minority groups is still neglected.

This is a result of the immigration of foreign countries during the history. America tries hard to find solutions to help the minority-groups, but it takes a long time and is hard work.