Education in the USA

Over 57 mln students are enrolled in American schools. Americans place a high value on education for themselves and for their children. Universal access to high quality education has been one of the nation’s historic goals.

More than 100 years before signing the Declaration of Independence, European settlers in Massachusetts passed laws requiring all communities to hire school masters. American’s first college, Harvard was founded in Massachusetts in 1636 and in 1865 education was becoming available to all.

There are the varieties of schools in America now: public and private, large and small, urban and rural, traditional and experimental, academic, vocational and comprehensive. Educational system of the USA consists of: Preschool education, Elementary school, Secondary school and Higher education. Preschool education: The school year is usually nine months, from early September to mid – June. A child’s introduction to formal education is usually in kindergarten classes operated in most public school systems. Many systems also provide nursery schools. The age group is commonly four and five years. These preschool education programs maintain a close relationship with the home and parents, and aim to give children useful experiences which will prepare them for elementary school. Elementary school: The main purpose of elementary school is the general intellectual and social development of the child from 6 to 12 or 15 years of age. Carricula vary with the organization and educational aims of individual schools and communities. Promotion from one grade to the next is based on the pupil’s achievement of specified skills in reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, history, geography, music and art. Secondary school: Most pupils follow a course that includes English, science, social studies, mathematics and physical education. Elective subjects may be chosen in the fields of foreign languages, fine arts and vocational training. Most young Americans graduate from school with a high school diploma upon satisfactory completion of a specified number of courses. Students are usually graded from A (excellent) to F (failing) in each course they take on the basis of performance in tests given at intervals throughout the year, participation in class discussions and completion of written and oral assignments. Locally developed end-of-the-year examinations are given in many schools. Some states, as New York, give statewide examinations which are prepared by the state department of education. After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Americans go on to higher education. American institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, community colleges, colleges offering four-year bachelor degree programmes and universities which contain one or more colleges and graduate schools offering master’s or doctoral degree programmes. The factors determining an institution’s prestige are the quality of the teaching faculty, quality of research facilities, the number and competence of applicants for admission.

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