Features of the education system in the USA. Different types of American schools: how to get there and how much it costs School education in America

In the United States, parents have a choice of where to send their child to study: to a public free school, a fairly expensive private school, to a so-called private school, for which both parents and the state pay, or even leave the child to study at home. ForumDaily studied the pros and cons of each of the above options.

Public schools

School years in the United States begin at the age of five or six. It is at this age that children go to the so-called Kindergarden, or “K” (pronounced “kay”). This is already part of free compulsory school education - the so-called public schools. The duration of schooling is 12 years.

School education for children up to 16-18 years of age (depending on the state) is compulsory. It is usually divided into several stages: 6 years of primary school, 3 years of secondary school and another 3 years of higher school, or high school. But there are also options for 5-3-4 years, old-fashioned 8-4 and 6-6 years. When choosing a school with an 8-4 plan, the child spends the first eight years in elementary school, and then goes straight to high school for four years. 6-6 means that after six years of primary school the child enters a mixed secondary-high school.

What plan schools propose depends directly on the guidance of the city department of education and the preferences of each individual state government. It’s hard for us to imagine, but there is not a single education law, not even a single school curriculum in the United States. The national government has handed over the reins of school education to the states, each of which has an education department with its own vision of schools. Subordinate to him are the city education departments, which control public schools.

An indicator of the quality of education in a public school is its rating: it ranges from 1 to 10. Accordingly, the higher, the better. A number of factors influence the rating of schools: the amount of funding (money for schools comes from the state budget and city property taxes), student performance, test success, etc. The rating of a school in your area can be found on special websites:

School ratings are so important that they even affect the cost of nearby houses. In areas with good schools it is always significantly higher. The fact is that in the vast majority of cases you cannot choose a public school. The child will go to school, which is assigned to the area of ​​residence. Because of this restriction, some lucky owners of the “correct” addresses even make an illegal business - they rent out addresses to unfortunates who are not in the area of ​​the desired school.

However, often in large cities and small overpopulated areas there are not enough places in high-rated schools for all the children living in the area, and then these places are awarded by lottery. If the child loses, they are sent to the school where there are free places.

Applications for participation in the lottery must be submitted long before the start of the school year - in January or February, sometimes even in September - a year after admission. Lottery results can also come at different times - both in March and in August, a few weeks before the start of the school year. The exact deadlines for submitting documents and receiving a response should be obtained from your local education department.

What does an immigrant need?

To enroll a child in school, an immigrant who arrives even in the middle of the school year needs a minimum of documents:

- vaccination card translated by the parent himself;

— confirmation of place of residence (water or internet bill, rental agreement, etc.).

That's all. Confirmation of the legality of the child’s stay in the country is not required - school education is available to everyone. For children who go straight to secondary or higher school, a list of subjects with the number of hours is also not needed.

Charter schools

Charter schools are something between a public and private school, they also have their own rating d. The state allocates money for each student, but the school also collects contributions from parents. They are voluntary - the amount can range from several tens to thousands of dollars. The result is a kind of learning by sharing.

As a rule, the teaching system in such schools differs from the standard one - it could be a Waldorf school or Montessori. There are currently more than 1,200 employees in the United States charter schools, where almost 600 thousand children study.

Private schools

Private schools are another fairly popular type of school in the United States. Training in them, of course, is paid.

The average cost in the country is about $9.5 thousand.ranking of the most expensive private schools In the first positions are states such as New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut - where, on average, tuition costs more than $20 thousand per year. In California, on average, a private school costs $12.5 thousand, but in the heart of Silicon Valley - in the city of Palo Alto - a private school will cost $26 thousand. Litchfield County, Connecticut, the most expensive in the field of private school education, is also impressive, with an incredible $46 thousand per year But for residents of Nebraska or Wisconsin, a private school will cost only $3-4 thousand a year.

Public vs. private school

Elena Odintsova came with her two daughters from Moscow to Palo Alto two years ago. The eldest, Dasha, had just turned four and a half years old - it was time for Kindergarden. Actually, the choice when moving to Palo Alto fell precisely because of the schools. The right to get into a good local public school had to be won in a lottery, and Dasha won it. A school with a rating of 9, primary school graduates pass all tests perfectly, classes are well equipped, highly educated teachers, an art focus - in a word, a dream. However, after a few weeks, Elena realized that she expected more from a school with such a rating: “They don’t teach children self-discipline at all. In addition, a lot depends on the environment. And if all the children go to school unkempt and ragged, it’s difficult for my daughter to adhere to any dress code.”

In Dasha's class there was one teacher for every 30 students. Children, in principle, were not forced to study. Parents of other schoolchildren hired private teachers to teach their children to read and write. By the middle of second grade, Elena decided to transfer her child from a public school to a private one.

Elena Odintsova with her daughters. Photo from the family archive

However, Dasha was not accepted into one of the popular networks of private schools - after a year and a half at a public school, she could not pass the entrance test. Elena did not give up, and, in the end, found a nice private school in a neighboring town, where they agreed to help and provide, as part of the regular fee, a teacher who would help Dasha catch up with the program.

Elena says that since October there has been a dramatic change in the girl. Dasha turned out to be a clean and disciplined child, not prone to being late. She wanted to learn and achieve success. The training program fully stimulated such changes. At the end of each week, the kids have a spelling test, and they also constantly write essays. As a working mother, Elena really likes the additional and inexpensive activities on school grounds after the end of the school day - tennis, chess, music breaks. In a word, there would be no happiness, but misfortune would help, Elena jokes now.

Choosing between good and very good

Tatyana Abdikeeva came to San Francisco from St. Petersburg 7 years ago. I started looking for a private school for my youngest daughter, as soon as she turned 2.5 years old. Initially focused onprivate school. I went on a tour of a girls' school in one of the most prestigious areas of San Francisco. According to her,no innovations were introduced there, relying specifically on the old tradition of separate education for girls and boys.

Tatyana had good impressions of the school itself: “The premises are wonderful, there’s nothing to complain about. A good library, classrooms have glass walls. Spacious, clean, lots of air. The girls wear uniforms, even their hairpins match. Of course it looks wonderful. Children express themselves through manicure.”

Tatyana also liked the teachers. However, she believes that the approach to education in this private school is completely standard. “I wanted to be shown how my child's education here would be broader and deeper than in a public or other private school. It looks like they don’t have anything like that,” Tatyana states. But since the school has good teachers, the children simply won’t be able to do poorly, she thinks. Moreover, there is one teacher for every seven children. For comparison: in a public school there are one or two teachers for 30 children.

Tuition at this school costs $29 thousand per year. After the introductory tour, Tatyana thought about it and decided that there was nothing to pay that kind of money for here.

Tatyana Abdikeeva began choosing a school for her daughter in advance. Photo from personal archive

Next on her list was a German bilingual private school, where tuition costs $18,500 a year. For Tatyana, a big plus was that after graduation the children can speak both English and German perfectly. In addition, at the end of secondary school, children choose another language to study (Spanish or French), and in high school they can either choose a fourth language or deepen their existing knowledge. Upon completion, the school issues two diplomas: one American, the second German. With the latter, you can enter European universities. Tatyana liked almost everything about this school, and for now she has chosen this private school, but she still has time to think.

Certificate delivered to your home

Another option to obtain a high school diploma in the United States is homeschooling. This type of free education is quite common - 3.4% of all schoolchildren (and this is more than 1.7 million people ) in the USA they study at home.

Alexey, the ten-year-old son of Ukrainian woman Elena Anikina, has been homeschooled for the second year. Elena and her husband came to Hayward, California, from Canada - Alexey was born there. The California public school near their home no longer suited Elena and Alexey by the end of the second grade. The morning began with the baby's tears - he flatly refused to go to school. When Elena began to figure it out, it turned out that Alyosha completed the tasks before everyone else, and the teacher forced him to solve the same examples in the second round. And then I gave them again as homework.

Elena thought about what to do. She learned from friends that children could be educated at home, and decided to try this option. As a rule, all information about this type of training can be obtained from your local school district.

Elena is now provided with everything she needs for home schooling by a special school , intended for “homeworkers”. There is an excellent library where you can choose textbooks on all subjects. You can choose andtraining program by subject. Textbooks and workbooks are provided for each program.

Alexey has a weekly work plan. If something is not clear, Elena explains it to him. Once a month, mother and son go to report to school. The teacher-curator looks through the workbooks and talks about each subject. These students take a standardized test at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year.

Lena shares the advantages: “Firstly, we all get enough sleep. Secondly, dad has time to study with Alexey for an hour before work.” The child’s day is filled with interest groups: music plus choir, French, robotics, tennis, swimming, chess, drawing, science - on average two or three classes a day. Some of them are paid, some are free. The teacher-curator recommends spending four hours a day directly on mastering the school curriculum. Alexey can do it in three. Myself. “I hardly have to push him. Well, if only sometimes you threaten with school,” Elena smiles.

Most residents of our country know about the education system in America only from films and books. It’s no secret now that many innovations in our educational system are being borrowed from the USA. In our article we will try to understand what a school in America is, what are its features and differences from our educational institutions.

Differences between American and Russian education

More recently, under Soviet rule, education in the Soviet Union was considered one of the best. Nowadays, our education system is increasingly being compared with the American one. There is a significant difference between them; it is impossible to say which one is better and which one is worse. Each has its pros and cons.

The American education system is more democratic. While in our country almost all schools follow the same curriculum, in the USA there is no single plan. Students attend only a few compulsory disciplines, and everyone chooses the remaining subjects at their own discretion, taking into account personal preferences and the choice of their future profession. We can say that the school in America adheres to it much more than the Russian one.

Another difference between American educational institutions is that in them concepts such as “class” or “classmates” have a completely different meaning. Because all the children studying in one class can hardly be called a team. The American school still involves the creation of teams, but most often this happens in special classes, which, moreover, are chosen by the children themselves.

Compared to our schools, sports activities are the most popular in US institutions; there is practically not a single institution for children that does not have a well-equipped gym, swimming pool and stadium.

A school in America is not a single building, like in our country. More like a student town with several buildings. Its territory must be additionally equipped with:

• Assembly halls for holding various events.
• Gym.
• A big library.
• Dining room.
• Park area.
• Residences.

It has already been mentioned a little that each state in America can approve its own educational programs. But compulsory secondary education remains the same for everyone. True, it can begin either from 6 years old or from seven. The start time of classes may also vary: in some schools they may start at 7:30, while others prefer to put children at their desks at 8:00.

The academic year, unlike ours, is divided into only two semesters, and not into quarters. The assessment does not provide for a five-point system, but a 100-point criterion is often used.

Education system in American schools

American education is quite diverse, so everyone can choose their own individual path in acquiring knowledge. Every country and every people has its own value systems and traditions that are passed on from generation to generation. We also have our own attitudes, which are ingrained in children’s heads from childhood. For example, from birth, a Jewish child is taught by his parents that he is the smartest and can achieve any achievement. Maybe that is why there are so many outstanding scientists and the latest discoveries in this country.

In American families, a child learns one truth from childhood: in life there is always room for choices that he can make. Not everyone can become a famous physicist or chemist, but you can always find many other exciting activities for yourself. In the USA, your place in society and well-being depend not on your type of activity or profession, but on your success in this area. Being a simple car mechanic is not at all shameful if you do your job at the highest level and there is a queue of clients lining up for you.

The American education system is also set up for this. Already within the walls of school, the child can choose for himself the activities that he likes best. The only thing that remains uniform is the requirement to consistently graduate from several types of schools, which will be discussed further.

There are no rigid groups or classes in schools; students are called students and have the right to choose courses that suit their inclinations and the aspirations in life that they have. If in our schools a general schedule is drawn up for each class, then each student can have his own class schedule.

Each course is worth a certain number of points, which is called a credit. There is even a minimum credit that must be earned in order to move on to the next school or enroll in another institution. There are special college preparation classes available, but you must also have a “personal loan” to be eligible to take them. Most children consciously choose the classes they attend, and therefore their path to the future.

A school in America offers scholarships for children, which depend on the size of the “personal loan”. It also happens when a student has such a high credit that it is enough to get two higher educations for free.

We can say that students have two options: to achieve everything with their own work and abilities, or to use their parents’ money for further education.

An American school has another interesting feature - the child is still studying within the school, and information about his achievements is transmitted to all higher educational institutions. There are no entrance exams to institutes and universities, each student writes test papers in subjects throughout the year, and the results at the end of the year are sent not only to the academic part of the school, but also to colleges and universities. After graduating from school, each student can only consider invitations from various educational institutions to study or send requests to them himself, waiting for a response. So it turns out that you can achieve high results and enter a prestigious university not only for money, but also by putting in the maximum of your work.

It doesn’t matter how many schools there are in America, but in each of them the only decisive factor for entering a prestigious university is one’s own great desire and aspiration. Of course, not everyone is blessed with good mental abilities, but if you want to study at a university, the state is more willing to provide a student loan, which is paid off after graduation.

Types of schools in America

There are many educational institutions in the USA, but they can all be divided into the following types:

1. Public Schools.
2. Boarding school.
3. Private educational institutions.
4. Home schools.

Public schools are divided by age: there is an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. It is necessary to clarify how children in America study in such schools. First of all, their distinctive feature is their strict division into separate establishments. They are not only located in separate buildings, but can also be geographically located far from each other.

Boarding schools are located in large fenced areas with well-equipped buildings for classes, residences, gyms and everything necessary for receiving a quality education. Such schools are often called “schools of life” and quite rightly so.

Secondary education in the USA

To obtain a certificate of education you must complete three levels of school:

• Primary school.
• Average.
• The older one.

They all have their own requirements and characteristics. Programs and list of subjects can also vary greatly.

Elementary education

Education in America begins with elementary school. It is necessary to clarify that there are no problems in getting to school. Some students are brought by their parents, those over 16 can drive themselves, and the rest are picked up by school buses. If the child is in poor health or is disabled, the bus can drive directly to his home. They also deliver children home after classes. All school buses are yellow, so it is simply impossible to confuse them with other city transport.

Most often, the elementary school building is located in parks and squares; it has one floor and is quite cozy inside. One teacher is in charge of the class and conducts all subjects according to the children. As a rule, children have traditional classes: reading, writing, native language and literature, fine arts, music, mathematics, geography, natural science, hygiene, labor and, of course, physical education.

Classrooms are equipped taking into account the abilities of children. Before this, the babies are tested. But all tests are no longer aimed at identifying the level of preparedness for school, but at revealing the child’s natural inclinations and his IQ.

After testing, students are divided into three classes: “A” - gifted children, “B” - normal, “C” - low-ability. We work more intensively with gifted children from primary school and guide them towards further higher education. The entire process takes five years.

High school in America

After finishing primary school, a child with a certain “personal credit” moves to secondary school. The question arises: how many classes does a high school in America have? As we found out, training takes three years, respectively, students move to 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

A secondary school, like an elementary school, can have its own curriculum in each district. The school week lasts 5 days, and vacations twice a year - winter and summer.

The secondary school is usually located in a larger building, since it has many more students. Training is also based on a credit system. In addition to the compulsory subjects, which include mathematics, English, literature, each child can choose, depending on his preferences, additional lessons. At the end of the year, exams are required; in order to move to the next class, you need to gain a certain number of credits. In secondary schools, career guidance is mandatory, which helps children decide on their choices in life.

High school

We have looked at what types of schools exist in America; it remains to be seen what a high school is like. It includes 4 years of study, from grades 9 to 12. As a rule, such schools have their own specialization, so careful preparation for admission to higher educational institutions begins from the 9th grade. This type of school is quite important, since during your studies you can not only accumulate enough knowledge for admission, but also gain credits that will allow you to significantly save on your studies.

In high school, the program requires the study of English, mathematics, social subjects and natural disciplines. Considering that a high school must adhere to specialized education, different institutions may have different directions.

There are the following directions in schools:

For example, if a student studied an academic profile, he has the right to enter a higher education institution. But this only applies to well-performing children. If the results are not very good, then the student chooses a suitable practical course for himself.

Any professional profile gives students practical skills. Depending on the chosen direction, a class schedule is drawn up.

Rules in American schools

School rules exist in any school, of course, in American ones they differ significantly from ours. Here are some of them:

1. It is prohibited to walk in the corridors during lessons.
2. When going to the toilet, the student is given a pass card, which is marked by the teacher on duty in the toilet.
3. If a child misses school, the secretary calls on the same day and finds out the reason for the absence.
4. You can skip only 18 lessons if the subject is taught all year, if the course takes six months, then only 9 absences are allowed.
5. You cannot leave the school until all the lessons are over; there are video cameras everywhere.
6. Security guards keep order at the school; they wear civilian uniforms, but have weapons.
7. In American schools, it is prohibited to eat in the hallways and classrooms; this can only be done in the cafeteria or cafe.
8. You cannot carry drinks or food with you.
9. Drugs and alcohol are prohibited, as is the carrying of weapons, although such a warning for our schools looks completely ridiculous. In our country this is a given.
10. The manifestation of sexual inequality in any form is unacceptable. Even a hand on a friend's shoulder can be considered sexual harassment.
11. It is prohibited to play cards in class.
12. School rules even contain a clause prohibiting cheating.
13. Damage to school property is not permitted.

Some rules relate to school uniforms; for us, some of them seem completely absurd:

You can purchase a school uniform in a specialized store, where a card is issued for each student and a discount is provided on the purchase.

The American teacher also adheres to a strict style of dress; of course, it is not necessary to wear suits, but men do not wear jeans to classes, and female teaching staff often wear skirts rather than trousers.

All rules for students are printed out and pasted into school diaries at the beginning of the school year.

Private schools in America

All private schools in the USA are fee-paying. Not all families can afford to educate their children in such an institution, because the cost of a private school for all years of study will cost on average, if converted into Russian money, from 1.5 to 2 million rubles. But it is necessary to clarify that this amount includes not only training, but also accommodation in a boarding house with full support.

Many private schools are ready to provide their students with financial assistance, this applies to both well-performing children and

Since there is often promiscuity in public schools, cases of rape and pregnancy of young girls are not uncommon; for the safety of their children, parents prefer to pay in order to be calm about the health and life of their children.

Private schools have some advantages over public schools:

• There are about 15 people in the classes, which gives each student the opportunity to receive maximum attention.
• Living in a dormitory provides constant communication with your peers not only during classes, but also in everyday life.
• In private schools, the period of study is longer, so the chances of entering a university increase.

Private schools, for a number of reasons, are more prestigious, but among public educational institutions you can also find ones where you can get a good education.

Homeschooling in America

Recently, home schools have become fashionable in America. Once upon a time, such education appeared naturally in families in which parents had a good education to teach their children at home, as well as a decent income to purchase all the necessary textbooks and manuals.

Now in many American cities there are educational centers for children from home schools. Teachers in various subjects are assigned to each center. They provide lessons for both children and their parents. These are usually orientation sessions during which children receive a curriculum and some necessary materials.

After this, an individual schedule is drawn up for visiting teachers, during classes the student writes tests and receives a new assignment. Webinars and online lessons are practiced.

Children who are educated in home schools also have their own holidays and sports competitions, where they meet others like them. That is, there is a team, only its members meet each other much less often.

It is believed that homeschooling requires much less effort, so children are less tired and are not as susceptible to the bad influence of their peers. Children from such schools are usually friendly, welcoming, and have good manners.

Schools for Russians in America

There is also a school for Russians in America. As a rule, it is chosen by those parents who do not want their children to forget their native language. In such institutions, teaching is conducted in English, but there are subjects such as Russian language and literature.

Most often, Russian schools are opened at Orthodox parishes, then it turns out that they are not daily, but Sunday. But in some American schools there are Russian schools where children are taught. This is also a good opportunity not to forget your native language.

In various centers, clubs and sections are opened, which are taught by Russian teachers and in Russian. For example, figure skating, dancing and drawing, gymnastics and others.

For very young children there are kindergartens, only private ones, where children communicate in Russian. There can only be 8 people in a group, because a teacher who has received a license for such activities can simultaneously raise that many children. Children are accepted from the age of two.

Thus, while living in America, you can remember the Russian language and at the same time communicate freely in English.

To summarize all that has been said, we can conclude: no matter what schools exist in America, you can choose at your own discretion. Most often, this issue is decided by parents if the child is still small, and at an older age, they choose an educational institution together with their children. You can also get a prestigious education completely free of charge if you have a great desire and make every effort.

School education in America is aimed at instilling in children self-discipline, responsibility, independent thinking and leadership qualities. Teachers help children develop analytical skills, teach them to make decisions independently, defend their point of view and apply the acquired knowledge in real life. The spirit of freedom is one of the main differences between American educational institutions.

In an American school, children study for 12 years - from 5–6 to 17–18. Each school determines the age of enrollment of foreign students independently. In some cases, children are accepted from the age of 7, but few parents are ready to send their child abroad at this age. Therefore, as a rule, children of middle school age (13–14 years old) or high school age (16 years old) come.

Structure of secondary education in the USA

Academic year:

5 days a week, 6–8 hours with a lunch break

Holidays:

4 days in November for Thanksgiving

3rd week of February

1st week of April

2 months in summer

The American school system includes three main levels. Each level is a completely independent institution, which is located in a separate building. In primary grades, children study compulsory disciplines; in secondary grades, several elective subjects are added to them. In high school, students can choose the disciplines they will need when entering university. There are no homeroom teachers, like classes, in American schools, but each student has a curator who gives recommendations on the choice of subjects, schedule, career guidance and admission to universities.

Elementary School

5–11 years (0–5 grade)

Depending on the state, the primary school structure may have 5 or 6 grades, starting with preparatory school. Children from 5 years old are accepted into the zero (preparatory) grade. Students from other countries may enroll in elementary school if the child lives in the United States with a parent or guardian.

The first two years in an American elementary school there is no strict discipline and serious academicism: children can walk around the classroom, sit on the floor, read bright books and talk while sitting in a circle on the floor. Assignments are offered in free form. For example, after a walk, kids are asked to draw what they saw green; Older children can write a mini-essay about a beetle that crawled up a tree in the school yard. By fifth grade, children move to single desks and lessons become more structured.

In elementary school, the main academic subjects - writing, reading, basic mathematics and the outside world - are taught by one teacher, and other teachers take the children to creative, music and sports lessons.

Middle School

11–14 years old (grades 6–8)

In secondary school, each subject has its own teacher, and students have a certain freedom to choose subjects.

Required disciplines remain mathematics, English, natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy - science), history, physical education and creativity. Students choose 1–2 subjects at their own discretion. Most often this is computer technology, cooking, a foreign language or art.

Also at the middle level it becomes possible to choose a more complex program in the subject. To do this, you need to get an excellent grade in the previous year. From the 7th grade you can take an increased level of complexity in mathematics and English. In the 8th grade there are also natural and social sciences. In classes of increased complexity, a more intensive program with complex tasks and a large amount of information for independent study.

In addition, a credit system is being introduced in secondary schools. For studying 1 subject for 1 year, 5 credits are given, for disciplines that last 1 semester - 2.5 credits. These indicators are then taken into account when entering a university.

High School

14–18 years old (grades 9–12)

In high school, students are given greater freedom to choose subjects and their level of study.

Required blocks:

2 years of mathematics;

4 years of English;

2 years of natural sciences (with laboratory work);

3 years of social sciences;

1 year of physical education;

1 year art course.

Each discipline includes a number of sub-disciplines that the student can take individually or comprehensively: for example, mathematics includes courses in geometry, algebra, trigonometry, principles of analysis, statistics and other sections; the social science group includes US history, world history, political science, psychology, sociology, etc.

Children also choose elective classes:

• foreign languages;

  the basics of a healthy lifestyle;

  basics of doing business;

  oratory skills and others.

In high school, students take tests for admission to universities or colleges (SAT or ACT - tests that test general knowledge in the fields of mathematics, language, logic and critical thinking).

Advanced Placement (AP)

Starting from grade 9, some subjects can be studied more deeply - at the AP level. Most often, children choose the disciplines in which they will specialize at the university.

There are 38 subjects taught at the AP level in the United States. Among them:

art history;

macroeconomics;

microeconomics;

psychology;

music theory;

Latin language;

programming;

Eastern and European cultures.

The results of AR training provide advantages for admission to 90% of universities in the USA, Canada and more than 50 other countries. However, to do this, the exam grade for the selected AP subjects must be above 3.5 out of 5.

In 2014, a new program with an emphasis on research activities appeared - AP Capstone. It consists of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research.

The most prestigious universities will not consider applicants with a GPA below 4.25, a GPA that cannot be achieved without advanced AP courses.

Types of American Schools

Most children in America receive secondary education in free public schools; there are also private schools; about 3% of students remain homeschooled. Public high schools are open only to children with U.S. citizenship or U.S. residency. Only private schools have special accreditation and can accept foreign students.

Private schools are divided into:

boarding schools;

• parochial.

Also, private schools can be co-educational or separate - for girls and boys.

From the point of view of socialization, preference is given to coeducational schools (they are chosen by 76% of parents). Here children learn to trust members of the opposite sex and work with them as a team, which is important for future university studies and work.

However, students in single-sex schools show better academic results. According to statistics, they are less distracted and spend more time doing independent work, which affects their academic results (81% of children receive scores above average - versus 75% in coeducational schools). In boarding schools for girls, the main emphasis is on the humanities and arts, in schools for boys - on discipline, exact sciences and sports.

Features of US private schools

Private schools make up about 25% of all high schools in the United States. Most of them are small, up to 400 students. Almost all are boarding schools, providing students with not only education, but also accommodation throughout the academic year.

American boarding schools have many advantages:

location in a picturesque area;

high level of student safety;

comfortable living conditions;

quality food;

developed infrastructure (laboratories, sports complexes, theaters);

modern technologies and innovative equipment.

But the main advantage is the high level of education. Statistically, the average SAT score for private school graduates is higher than for public school graduates (1645 versus 1453 in 2016). In addition to studying basic subjects, an important place is given to sports and creativity, cultural education and the development of the child as an individual.

Many private schools focus on one area: for example, Fairmont Private Schools pay special attention to the study of technical and natural sciences; Idyllwild Arts Academy welcomes children who dream of a future in the arts and media.

What are classes like in an American high school?

A typical lesson in the US is a lively lecture where the teacher asks a question and engages students in discussion. Children are taught to independently seek solutions through discussions and debates, and to critically evaluate historical events.

Collaboration is considered one of the most important skills for a future career, so students often work in groups on projects and in class. In computer science classes, for example, teamwork is the main condition: over the course of a year, a group of students of 3–6 people can work on creating a simple application for smartphones. The teacher will always help if something doesn’t work out, or advise you to contact the guys from another group with a similar project to jointly find a solution.

The school pays great attention to physical education and health improvement of children. Each school has an infrastructure that allows you to practice a huge number of sports: from tennis to horse riding. Students choose their favorite sport and practice it 4 days a week. Each semester you can choose a new sport. The boys compete as part of the school team at regional and national championships.

How is performance assessed?

Oral questioning in an American school is very rare. All homework is completed in writing and submitted in class or through your personal account electronically. Sometimes students complete large projects: for example, they come up with and stage plays in a foreign language, prepare arguments for debates on sensitive topics (ecology, foreign policy, medicine, sociology). Often, as a final assignment on a topic, children make a presentation (for example, about the periodic table).

There are no exams in primary school. They appear towards the end of middle school, and occur every six months in high school.

Most often the exam lasts 90 minutes. Most of the tasks are multiple choice problems. There are no special days set aside to prepare for the exams, and the exams themselves take place on several days in a row.

For tests, tests, projects and exams, students receive grades A, B, C, D and F with pluses and minuses added. For example, if a student solved 95% of the problems, then he will be given an A, 90-92% - A-; for 60% of correct answers - D- (satisfactory, pass), and less - F (unsatisfactory, failure).

In most schools, grades are posted in an electronic journal, to which only the student and his parents have access.

Cost of education

The cost of secondary education in the USA depends on the school’s rating, state, prestige, and history. On average, a year of study costs from $40,000 to $70,000. This amount includes not only tuition, room and board, but also extracurricular activities and clubs, study materials, English courses for foreigners and preparation for final exams.

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We all have different attitudes towards school - but I think most remember their school years with love and gratitude, because school largely determines our future path in life. In Russia, the beginning of the school year has become an official holiday - Knowledge Day. How do they teach children in different countries of the world, how do schools abroad differ from ours in Russia? These questions are of interest to many, especially those who have school-age children.

General information.

I became quite familiar with the American “universal education”, since my grandson is an American by birth, lives in Houston, Texas, and in a year he will graduate from a full twelve-year school course. The United States does not have a unified national education system. Each state sets its own learning standards. And although regulations are issued by both federal and state authorities, often schools located just a few miles apart but under different school districts may have different programs. The management of local schools is carried out by Councils of educational districts, something like our RONO (district departments of public education). Secondary education is compulsory in all states, although there are some differences, in some places they study from seven to nineteen years, in others from six to eighteen, primary school can be five years or four years. Children go to public schools - Public schools - at their place of residence; outside the boundaries of their school district, they can only enroll in private schools. Every child, regardless of nationality, religion, gender, physical condition, or English language proficiency, is guaranteed a free complete secondary education. Even if you came to the USA with a school-age child on a visitor visa for 3-6 months and brought him to the nearest school, he will be accepted without problems.

The US public school system is three-level and includes elementary school - Elementary school, middle school - Middle school and higher school - High school. Sometimes middle and high schools are combined under the common name High school, but are still divided into two levels - grades 6, 7 and 8 - this is Junior (junior), and grades 9-12 - Senior (senior) High school, with separate buildings. Schoolchildren here are called students.

In elementary schools in Houston - Elementary school - students from the age of six, from grades 1 to 5. There is also a preparatory, or zero, class, which is called preschool. He can be either at school or in kindergarten. Classes are usually taught by one teacher, but often there is also an assistant teacher. Sometimes, especially in grades 4-5, some subjects are taught by other teachers. Class sizes in Texas cannot exceed 24 students. This rule applies to all schools. The number of Elementary schools is much larger than schools of other levels, because they are relatively small in number - 400-600 students, they are in almost every residential neighborhood (community, neighborhood).

In secondary schools, Middle School, students study for three years, from 6th to 8th grade. Children of 11-12 years old, graduates of several elementary schools, come to this school. Here lessons are already taught by subject teachers. Most high schools offer the same set of compulsory subjects: English, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education. But the boards of different school districts have different opinions about how many classroom hours should be devoted to the study of these subjects. Physical education classes are already moving to the level of sports teams, students choose one sport: American or European football, basketball, swimming, athletics, etc. There are only classes in strength sports, such as boxing and various types of wrestling.

The third, final, stage of education, “higher school” - High school, grades 9-12, is more reminiscent of a college than our regular school. In Houston these are very large schools, sometimes with over 3,000 students. In our neighboring new residential neighborhood “Clear Lake” there are 3,500 students in the school. There are approximately the same number of students in the school closest to our village; it consists of a complex of buildings, huge parking lots (many high school students drive their own cars) and several stadiums - an entire campus.
The start and end times of the school year, as well as holidays, do not coincide in different schools. For example, the school year before last in many schools began on August 18, and the last one on the 24th, in some schools from the middle of the week, on August 13. There is no holiday, “Day of Knowledge,” to mark the beginning of the school year. A week before the start of classes, the school notifies all parents and invites them to a general meeting. It usually takes place in the gym, everything is very casual, businesslike. The director introduces the rules of conduct at school and parental responsibility. Each student or his parents is given a sheet with the number of the student’s personal locker - in order not to walk around the school with a backpack, you must leave everything in the closet; only what is needed for this subject is taken to class. A lesson schedule for the first week and a list of necessary stationery and educational supplies are also provided.

Lessons in schools begin very early: in primary schools at 8 am, and in Middle and High schools at 7-30, the school bus starts picking up children at 6-15 or 6-30, and at 7-00 they are already dropped off at the school. At this time, the teachers are already in class, helping to understand the material, if the student did not learn something in the previous lesson and comes up for help. The duration of the school year is 175 working days with a five-day week and 5-7 lessons daily. For those who do poorly in one or two subjects, summer schools are assigned for 3 weeks; based on the results of the classes, a test is taken. And the District Council decides whether to transfer the student to the next grade or leave him for the second year.

Principals, teachers, and teaching assistants are hired by the district administration, which reports to a Board that includes the students' parents. The teaching profession in the USA is very prestigious and respected. Getting a job at a school is much more difficult than getting a job at a university. The country has a multi-stage (up to 24 grades) system of remuneration for school teachers. This or that level is awarded depending on the level of professional qualifications, work performance and length of service.
The salary of a beginning young teacher, with a bachelor's degree, in different states ranges from $30 to $35 thousand per year, and an experienced one, with experience, with a master's or doctoral degree (PHD) is about $60 thousand. There is a system of incentive bonuses at the end of the year for holding various competitions, Olympiads, events, etc. The main advantage is the very high level of social protection for teachers, health insurance and pensions, which are paid by the state. Therefore, the average American teacher lives in his own home, has a good car and can afford vacations at resorts. School principals earn approximately twice as much, depending on the type of school and student population. Paid leave - 20 working days - is provided only to the school director. Teachers have vacation for the entire summer holidays, but unpaid. And during the school year, teachers can receive 10 paid sick days. During the summer holidays, teachers can improve their professional and educational levels. Unfortunately, recently there have been large reductions in the number of teachers in schools, which will undoubtedly lead to a decrease in the quality of education and an increase in the number of students in classes.

As in our schools, teachers in the USA write lesson plans - they are mandatory, and are submitted for testing every four weeks. Once a month, official meetings are held between the director and all teachers of the school - like our teacher councils, and once a month the director meets with each teacher individually to talk about various issues. The entire academic year is divided into two semesters and divided into six-week periods. At the end of this period, scores are assigned for each academic subject (in Texas there is a 100-point grading system) and score sheets are sent to parents. There, the teacher notes what changes there are in learning - improvement or deterioration.

Material support.

Approximately 88% of schoolchildren study in US public schools. They are financed from federal, state and municipal budgets. The state annually spends 7.5% of GDP on education; educating one student costs approximately $8,500.

12% of children study in private schools, the material base of which is formed through parental contributions, various funds and donations. Four out of five private schools are religious in nature, run by a church (Catholic, Protestant, Baptist), synagogue or mosque. In these schools, in addition to general subjects, the basics of religion are studied. Tuition fees in schools with a “religious bias” are lower than in other private schools, discipline is stricter, and many parents believe that the quality of education there is higher than in public schools. Most private schools have a uniform uniform for students. In these schools, more attention is paid to aesthetic education, theater and musical groups are created, and more various kinds of excursions are held,

The cost of education in various private schools is 12-13 thousand dollars per year, and can exceed $30 thousand. The family of my friends pays 29 thousand for the education of two children in a private school - 13,000 for 1st grade and 16,000 for 5th grade. But in addition to this fee, there are many additional costs for all kinds of events. So a good education is not cheap. Schools in the USA do not have numbers, but are named either by location or bear the names of famous people, sometimes the name of the person who founded or sponsored the school, for example, Cinco Ranch High School, or Barbara Jordan Elementary school.

The educational and material base of schools in Houston is admirable. Well-equipped natural science classrooms with laboratories where students perform a variety of work in chemistry, biology, physics, etc. Classrooms with single desks and desks have a TV and computer. Computer classes have high-speed Internet. The huge amount of duplicating equipment is surprising, since teachers give almost all assignments to students in printed form. There are classes for music lessons, for dance classes, theater studios, for creative works in applied arts, and libraries. Almost all schools have student orchestras, music groups and choirs, and drama studios that perform in front of a wide audience. Each school has gyms, sometimes several - separately for gymnastics, for group ball games, many schools have swimming pools and even gyms. And of course, large school areas with playgrounds for younger children, with stadiums with basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, since sports in American schools are one of the main disciplines.

Once in one of the TV shows, on NTV, I think, in response to the question: “What would you like our Russian school to be like?” one of the participants in the program said that he would like her to have the same level of education as in the UK, material support as in the USA, and teachers the same as they were in Soviet times.” Of course, the level of knowledge is influenced not only by material support, but, you see, it is easier for teachers to work and for children to study in small classes, with good equipment and visual aids.
As for schoolchildren's meals, it is organized much worse than ours. In elementary and middle school, many children bring boxed lunches with them. There are canteens, or rather buffets, in schools, but the food is not prepared there; they deliver it ready-made and then heat it up. The food selection is very monotonous and the prices are much higher than in the cafes outside the school. Usually these are 2-3 types, for example - a piece of pizza, or a chicken sandwich, or fish fingers, or chicken nuggets. And in small packaging there are cookies, crackers, chocolates. And a drink, most often iced tea or bottled water. All sweet carbonated drinks such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola are prohibited in schools as harmful to health. Payment at the buffet is made through a computer device from the student’s individual account. Every month, parents transfer a certain amount to the child’s account, where in addition to the name, the class and identification number are indicated. You can, of course, pay in cash.

My grandson is now in 11th grade at High School. His daily lunch costs him 5-6 dollars, but he remains half-starved, since for this amount he takes two slices of pizza and a drink, or a sandwich and tea. He tells us with indignation: “Why is everything so expensive at school? We buy a large pizza from a pizzeria for 5-50, there are 8 slices, they bring the same one to school, but they sell it for $1.75 per slice!” And the son remembers how delicious the food was in the Soviet school canteen when he was studying, and a full lunch cost only 35 kopecks!

Textbooks and notebooks.

What really surprises me in American schools is the textbooks, or rather their size, and the lack of normal notebooks. The textbooks are so huge and heavy that there are two copies for each student, one for use in class and the other for home use. Imagine a volume of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, or any large encyclopedic dictionary - so, school textbooks for American schoolchildren are larger in size, and most importantly, due to the fact that they are printed on thick paper and in hardcover, the weight of one book exceeds 2 kg, and some weigh 3 kg (I weighed it!). Try carrying them in your backpack every day! Textbooks are issued by the school library free of charge; on the cover (as we used to have) there is a sign on which the name of the student who uses the book is written down every year. At the end of the school year, books are returned; if they are in poor condition, you will have to pay the cost of the textbook. By the way, he is already the sixth user of his grandson’s World History textbook, but the book is in excellent condition.

In elementary school, at least until the 3rd grade, children practically do not use textbooks at home. They receive all homework either on pieces of paper, printed on a printer, or in workbooks. These notebooks are large format, like magazines, and in most tasks, especially in the lower grades, you just need to check the correct answer, like in a test. And no one demands that tasks be completed carefully. Some people put the sheets of paper in a folder, and some, after checking by the teacher, crumple them up, put them in their backpack, and then throw them away. Up to high school, everyone is allowed to write with pencils; no one writes with fountain pens. Many schools do not require or teach cursive writing, only block letters.

Discipline and order.

Schoolchildren, as throughout the world, are not ideal, and can violate discipline and rules of conduct. But in the USA, parents, when enrolling a child in school, sign a document that clearly states how the student should behave, what measures of influence can be taken, and what the parents are responsible for the child’s behavior.

Here teachers do not deal with discipline. For this purpose, there is an office - an office, where 2-3 administrators on duty constantly work. All data for each student is on the computer. Not a single student would think of challenging the teacher’s grade, as often happens in our school, or explaining that “I did my homework, but forgot it at home...”. No work – zero points. That's all. During the lesson they may not listen, doze off, talk quietly, but no one dares to be rude to the teacher or argue with him. It is forbidden to turn on a cell phone at school. And if the slightest violation of discipline occurs, the phone rings, someone hits someone (God forbid!), or curses, the teacher sends the offender to the office. Then the administrator or someone from management deals with it. At school, from the early grades, denunciation is encouraged - children inform the teacher about all the violations of their fellow students, this is not considered bad manners. This then carries over into adult life - reporting your neighbor to the relevant authorities if you see that something is wrong with him, for example, he bought an expensive car, but he himself does not work, or does not clean his front yard as expected - a normal phenomenon. Vigilance is quite in the spirit of Stalin's time.

There is also a system of punishment for students. For a couple of minor sins, they can be sent to a “penal class” - deprived of the right to attend lessons for two or three days. The student is at school, sits in a separate “penalty” class, has no right to leave without the knowledge of the teacher on duty, and independently completes the tasks given to him. Older students may be deprived of lunch. In case of gross violations of discipline, or frequently repeated ones, he can be expelled from school for one or two weeks, and no one cares how he will then make up for what he missed. In High school, the volume of material in each subject is calculated in credit hours, as in universities. If you haven’t completed the hours during the semester, whether due to illness or another reason, you will have to go to summer school for three weeks, or study this subject in the evenings for two months three times a week. These classes are paid for by parents. Typically, for three weeks of Summer school the fee is $200, and evening classes during the school semester are cheaper - $100-150. Sometimes in the summer you have to travel to another school because struggling students are collected from across the school district.

Repeated offenders may be transferred to a special school. Sometimes it comes to the police. There was such a case with the son of our friends, a 7th grade student. I don’t know what prompted him to do such an act, whether he wanted to assert himself among his classmates, or he had an argument with someone, but during recess he rolled up some toilet paper in the toilet and set it on fire. And he quickly extinguished it, but one of his “comrades” managed to inform the office. The police were immediately called and a case was opened. The parents were summoned to the judge - there were two options: either pay a fine of $280, or the guy would work for two weeks after school - for example, sweep the street near the school, collect garbage, cut the grass on the lawn. The parents preferred to pay the fine, although, in my opinion, they should have waved the broom. And if a student was once noticed by the police, then this record is kept in his personal file for 5 years!

Don’t think that schoolchildren are all good boys, don’t fight, don’t smoke, etc. But not at school, everything is outside its territory. A grandson recently said that two boys started fighting in the school yard, high school students ran up and told them to quickly move outside, otherwise there would be trouble. Fights are not uncommon, especially since almost half of the students have hot Mexican blood, but they go to fight and fight away from school. It is no secret that drug use by teenagers is a big problem in the United States; in high schools, students are regularly tested if there is suspicion... but this is not the topic of my article.

Now in more detail about each level of schools.

Elementary School.

Children enter first grade after preparatory school, already knowing letters and numbers. The set of subjects in elementary school is somewhat similar to ours: they study their native language - reading and writing, mathematics, the basics of science - Science, much like our natural history, drawing, music and physical education. Some schools offer computer literacy classes. There are no literature or reading lessons like we have. In the classroom there are various small books on the shelf, the teacher says - whoever wants to, let him take it and read it. You are not asked to learn poems by heart. There is no penmanship in most public schools either; they write all the time with a pencil and block letters. No one pays attention to the handwriting and neatness of the work done. And there are no ordinary notebooks either, as I already mentioned. The teacher gives all homework assignments printed on sheets of paper in 4 formats. This teaching method surprises me - why translate so much paper if everything can be asked from the textbook?
The level of mathematical knowledge is far behind our schools; the multiplication tables are taught only in the 3rd grade. But there are tasks for memorizing the correct spelling of words - they call it “spelling bee”, i.e. you need to quickly spell the word, or write it down when the teacher pronounces it that way.

In science lessons, children are often asked to prepare some kind of “project” on their own: draw up a short story with drawings and pictures on a large piece of Whatman paper, and then tell it in class. Topics can be about the solar system, stars, animals, professions, etc. On some days, about once a week, students in grades 1-3 are allowed to bring with them one favorite toy, which should also be discussed in class. In general, quite a lot of attention is paid to ensuring that the child overcomes shyness and learns to speak in front of the class. In elementary schools, health days are often held, competitions are held at the school stadium, and there are many excursions to museums, the zoo, and the suburbs. At the end of the school year, tests are given, and based on their results, some children may be placed in a specially gifted class, with enhanced teaching in one or another subject.

About three years ago, for several months I helped a young mother from St. Petersburg look after her son, who was then in the 3rd grade. Mom left for work very early, and I took him to school, and after school I met him in the school lobby, because children cannot go to elementary school on their own without adult accompaniment, especially in grades 1-4. Parents must inform the administration how their child will be transported to school. If the distance from home is more than a mile, then the children are collected and transported by a school bus. Parents or accompanying persons can bring it themselves. But the administration must personally know the person who is driving the student, so they immediately introduced me and wrote down my details. 5th grade students can come by bicycle themselves if the house is close to the school. There are special places for bicycles.

In primary school, parents take a very active part in various extra-curricular activities. I had to attend such events several times. The festival was very interesting at the end of February, I don’t remember what it was dedicated to. It took place on Saturday. An amusement town with inflatable attractions was installed in the schoolyard, various sweets were sold on trays, sausages were fried on a huge grill, hot dogs were cooked, contests and competitions were held. Music was playing. I was surprised by the commercial nature of the event - everything was paid. At the entrance, children bought tickets for 20 cents each for a certain amount - how much cash the child had. Then these coupons were used to pay for attractions, sweets, drinks, etc. For example, jumping on a trampoline cost 5 coupons, shooting at a shooting range cost 4, a drink also cost a certain number of coupons. And in the large hall there was an exhibition and sale of children's works - there were aprons, potholders, embroidered napkins, appliqués, drawings, plates and flower pots painted by children, and photo frames. Most of the children were with their dad and mom, so there were as many parents as children, and everyone was having fun and joy.

Middle school.

In Middle school, from 6th to 8th grades, all the same subjects remain compulsory as in elementary school. Mathematics becomes more complex, but is not divided into algebra and geometry, as in our school; this is approximately the level of 4-6 grades. I looked at the test for graduation, 8th grade Middle school - fractional numbers, exponentiation, coordinate system, area of ​​figures. There are no such subjects as physics, chemistry, botany-zoology, geography, and especially drawing. There is a subject “science”, which is taught by one teacher - in one textbook there is general information on physics, chemistry, botany and zoology. US history, with elements of geography, is added as a social science. These are the main items. Students who do well in all these subjects can choose an additional foreign language, theater, playing musical instruments, singing, etc. Thanks to this, almost every school has its own brass band and choir; they perform at school and city events, for example, during matches in stadiums. Most secondary schools have special classes for gifted and talented children, who study in a complex program.

High School is the senior level of secondary school.

The last stage of American compulsory education - High School - is one of the most important and crucial moments in the life of American schoolchildren, where the final process of personality formation takes place. Pupils, or as they are called here, students, have the right to choose the subjects that they will need in their further studies, but there is a certain minimum required for everyone. Subjects are measured in credit hours, just like in college. There are specialized High Schools, for example, an art school or a school with a mathematical bias, where applicants are accepted after appropriate exams, regardless of place of residence.

High schools, of course, are also different, some are better, others are worse. Sometimes parents change their place of residence in order to place their child in a good school.
My grandson is lucky, he lives in an area with a very good school - Cinco Ranch High School, which ranks 3rd in the ranking of schools in the greater Houston area, and is among the best schools in Texas and the United States. Geographically, this is the Katy Independent School District. Katy is a satellite city of Houston, a prestigious area populated primarily by oil company employees, i.e. a fairly high-level middle class. That the High schools here are very large can be seen from the following data: in the Keti district there are 38 primary schools, 16 middle schools, and only 6 High schools.

Cinco Ranch High School was built and opened in 1999. Its construction cost 37.5 million dollars. The school is simply huge, with all its buildings covering 433,000 square feet or 40,200 square meters. It currently has 3,066 students, including 70% white, 13% Asian-Pacific, 12% Hispanic, and 5% African-American (data from the school’s website).

The school stadium is on par with the best city stadiums. There is an indoor swimming pool with 6 lanes of 25 meters each, excellent gyms. By the way, during the holidays, even summer, students can come to the gym at any time during the day for independent training. Entrance to the school using special individual magnetic cards. An outsider cannot just enter. If parents go to talk with teachers, then they must first agree and obtain the appropriate permission from the office. The school has huge parking lots for cars, since almost half of the students in grades 11-12 come in their own cars.
I'm not even talking about equipping classrooms and computerizing the school! In addition to classrooms and offices, the school has a large library, a music studio, a dance class, rooms for orchestra rehearsals - there are several of them, and its own small theater. The school has several websites on the Internet. Almost all teachers of basic subjects also have their own websites. Parents and students can find information and assignments on the subject there if something is unclear in the lesson, or classes were missed, as well as questions to prepare for the next test.

The scope of subjects for the High school course is as follows: natural sciences are studied for 3 years, including a year of chemistry, a year of biology and a year of physics. 3 years of mathematics: the first year is algebra, then geometry, the third year is algebra again - an introduction to analysis and mathematical analysis. And those who wish can take stereometry and trigonometry in the 12th grade. Literature is studied for 4 years, and social sciences for 4 years: world geography, world history, US government, the foundations of democracy; and 2 years of physical education on any school team. For the academic year, 6 compulsory subjects are chosen; they may differ for students at the same level. And there are no great groups like in our school. In mathematics there is one composition of students, in history another, in foreign language lessons - a third. And there are no class teachers either. There is a teacher, he is called a chancellor - a chancellor, who is responsible for the entire parallel, something like our head teacher, they turn to him on all questions that arise, he talks with parents if necessary.

In the 9th grade, my grandson had the following set of subjects: American literature, physics and introduction to chemistry, algebra, world geography, Spanish, physical education (swimming). In the 10th grade, he studied literature, geometry, biology, world history, computer (first semester), Spanish, and an interesting subject “Human Health”. I decided to give up physical education that year, I was tired of swimming, I didn’t choose anything else, I decided that I would get these hours in the 11th or 12th grade. In the second semester, instead of computer literacy, he took the subject “oratory”, they call it “speech”. In 11th grade, instead of world history, there is US history, with a detailed consideration of the Second World War. Instead of Spanish, the grandson took German as a second language. And, as one might expect, I didn’t really learn either Spanish or German - foreign languages ​​are taught just as poorly as in our schools. They have a very interesting subject in the 11th grade - Aquatic Science - something like biology on aquatic organisms. Knowledge testing is carried out using written surveys - quizzes - and tests; there are no oral answers at the board, as in our schools. Sometimes teachers give the task to prepare something like an essay, a small written assignment with illustrations, printed on the computer. There is no benefit from such work, given the widespread use of the Internet.
The grading system is 100-point, but also has a letter designation: “A” – 100 – 90 points, “B” – 90 – 80 points, “C” – 80 – 70, “D” – 70 – 60, and below – the student is not certified.
Upon completion of each subject, all students take a test, which is checked by a computer, and the computer assigns a grade. Attendance and grades earned during the course are also taken into account, so if there are many absences and the student does not reach a certain number of points, he will be forced to either take summer classes or retake the same course the next school year.

The school pays great attention to various extracurricular activities; students take an active part not only in sports, but in various interest clubs, clubs, and the school council. About once a month, various kinds of concerts and performances by school amateur groups are organized. Once I was at a play - a musical, where about 70 students from different classes took part, attending a theater studio and a school choir. The performance was a great success, and it was felt that the teachers put a lot of work into organizing such an event.
Many high school students combine school with work - they get jobs for 2-3 hours a day, in the evenings or on weekends, at McDonald's, in various kinds of pizzerias, in stores for arranging goods, as nannies. So, for the most part, High school graduates are usually already well prepared for adult life.