Elementary and secondary education includes instruction given to children from the age of 6 to 18 years, in increments referred to as 'Grades 1 - 12'. (See chart, last page.) Twelve formal years of education usually begins with elementary/primary school (grades one to six), then middle/junior high school (grades seven and eight), finishing with secondary/high school (grades nine to twelve).

The twelve formal years of education are usually organised under the ‘6-2-4 Plan’ beginning with elementary or primary school from grades one to six, followed by middle/junior high school from grades seven to eight and finishing with secondary or high school from grades nine to twelve. Variations on this pattern exist; however, the basic state-mandated curriculum for each grade is the same.

Elementary schools provide instruction in the fundamental skills of reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as history, geography, civics, crafts, music, science, health and physical education. Foreign languages are often introduced towards the end of elementary school or in middle/junior high school.

American High School Education

Overview
Public high school education is co-educational and comprehensive. Each student takes certain required courses, as outlined by the state, for a prescribed number of years or semesters (terms). Required courses may include English, mathematics, physical education, general science and social sciences, including classes similar to US history and government, world history and social problems. Students wanting to attend college or university elect courses with a special emphasis within their interests, eg. academic sciences (examples: biology, chemistry or physics), higher mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus), foreign languages, advanced English literature, composition or social sciences. Students interested in business or industry may take typing, shorthand, bookkeeping, business machines or 'business English'. Depending on the school, it may be possible to take agricultural, technical or fine arts-related subjects as well.

Grading and Exams

Continuous Assessment
Unlike in Britain, US schools do not train students for externally set examinations such as the GCSEs, Highers, AS or A-levels. Rather there is a continuous evaluation system; a 'cumulative file' or 'folder' is opened and will follow the student throughout his or her educational career. Marks range from 'A' (excellent) to 'F' (failing) in each subject. A student's marks will depend upon test performance, given at intervals during the year, class participation, homework assignments and independent projects, etc. Generally twice a year the student's parents are sent a 'report card' indicating the grades earned in each subject. The student's overall academic history is recorded in a 'transcript', which is later requested by universities seeking to evaluate the student.

Advanced Placement Exams
The nearest equivalents to A-levels are Advanced Placement (AP) tests, which are gaining increased recognition by British universities. The AP Programme is an advanced-level curriculum in a range of subjects. 'The College Board' prepared programme is adopted by high schools and integrated in addition to its state-mandated curriculum. Students who elect to enrol in the AP course complete one academic year of coursework in a specific subject. This coursework is designed to parallel an introductory college-level course in that subject. Upon completion of the course, students may take the AP exam in their chosen subject, for which there is a fee. A successful mark on the exam generally ensures that the student will not have to repeat the same coursework when s/he gets to university. As the AP programme is costly for high schools to adopt, parents and students should enquire with the prospective high school in advance.

High School Diploma
Upon satisfactory completion of twelfth grade, the student receives a 'high school diploma'. There is no exact UK equivalent to the high school diploma, but it is roughly comparable to at least five GCSE's, including English, maths, history, science, and any other subjects the students decides to pursue. Although most public high schools have no residency requirement (minimum amount of time a student must study at that school), some private schools may, and can therefore lengthen the amount of study required to earn a high school diploma. This may depend on if the student enters after the tenth grade (generally the second year of high school matriculation).

University Admissions Tests
For students planning to attend university/college it is advisable to take college entrance exams during the last two years in high school. These tests are set up by various independent institutions and are primarily multiple-choice. They are designed to assess verbal and mathematical skills and are not based directly on course work. The most widely recognised, are the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the SAT II Subject Tests administered by The College Board. The American College Testing Programme runs another parallel exam, called the American College Test (ACT), and although this is not as common as the SAT, both are recognised by accredited colleges and universities as a means of evaluating potential students. Additionally, some states have state-wide examinations which relate to admission and scholarships in their state universities.

Advice to Parents Taking Children Aged 15-18 to the US
Parents taking children aged 15 to 18 years to the US may be faced with a complex situation. US students can complete high school at age 17 before being admitted to university, whereas UK students generally complete GCSEs at age 16, then complete A-levels at age 18 before being admitted to university. Although there are no official equivalencies between the US and UK education systems, most UK and US educators agree that a US high school diploma (without AP courses) can be roughly compared to five GCSE passes at grade C and above. A US high school diploma with AP courses can be roughly compared to GCSEs plus A-levels. So, a student holding GCSEs when he or she enters the US may be academically more advanced than US students of the same age. He or she may find that the regular academic curriculum for that age group in the US is insufficiently challenging or duplicates work done for GCSEs. On the other hand, a less intensive curriculum may lesson the strain of adaptation to a new education system and way of life. Most US universities will not accept students under 17 years of age. Conversely, most UK universities will not accept American-educated students holding a high school diploma without AP test results. UK universities and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) recognise AP exams as equivalent to A-levels.

Faced with this situation, the student has several options:

Charter Schools
As with the growth of year-round education, there has been a rise in charter schools. These are independent public schools designed, sponsored and operated by educators, parents, community leaders, educational entrepreneurs and others. Charter schools attempt to design and deliver programmes tailored to educational achievement and community needs, and can be started by parents, teachers, community groups, or organisations. Charter schools are partially funded by the state, but rely on volunteers, grants and loans in addition. For more information visit the Centre for Education Reform website at: www.edreform.com

Applying to American Schools

Applying to Public Schools
Applying to Private Schools

Public Schools
At the elementary and secondary levels, students are likely to attend a school geographically nearest their home. Specific State departments of education can provide some background on public school districts as well as providing data such as teacher-student ratio, expenditure per student and daily attendance rates. A list of state department of education addresses is available at www.fulbright.co.uk/studyus/schoolstudy/departments.html

For families relocating to the US, prospective employers and colleagues are also a source of subjective information about local school districts. Parents may enquire about the emphasis of the curriculum, the school's resources, its counselling and college placement services as well as extracurricular activities. If training in English as a Second Language is a relevant concern, parents should also check with the school district in advance, as most public schools do not automatically offer ESL courses unless they are located in areas with large non-English speaking populations.

Parents should enquire with the central office of the local school district to determine which school their children will be assigned to and what documents are required for enrolment, e.g. medical records showing evidence of required immunisations and a academic report from the student's last school. The latter will be used to place students in a class or grade, and should be as detailed as possible. Samples of essays, projects and examinations also help determine placement. Parents should write directly to the schools to find out registration dates. To find addresses of public school systems for enquiry, consult Patterson's American Education, available for reference at EAS.

To find addresses of public school systems for enquiry, consult Patterson's American Education, available for reference at the EAS.

Private Schools
Historically, private boarding and day schools have been established to create a special educational environment including single-sex schools, religiously affiliated schools, and schools for students with learning disabilities. Some private schools called 'preparatory schools', or 'prep schools' are geared to prepare students for admission to highly selective colleges. Others emphasise certain curricula such as music or international education (the IB).

In considering a private school, it is important to examine the goals of the school in order to find one whose purposes match those of the student. Parents may also want to enquire about resources, extracurricular activities, counselling, college placement services and admission requirements. Some private schools can be very selective so parents should check that their child matches the acceptance requirements. If training in English as a Second Language is a concern, enquire if ESL courses are offered at either private boarding or day schools, and if they are offered only as a prerequisite to academic coursework, not as an integral part of the student's programme.

Private Boarding Schools
Private boarding schools attempt to prepare students for a university education, making them accustomed to independence from their parents, and creating a curriculum similar to university programmes. Many students attending private boarding schools live on the school campus, but it is possible to attend private boarding schools living outside of the campus with parents or guardians.

In order to attend a private boarding school the student goes through a rigorous application process. Most application deadlines are early, so students should begin the process ideally one year in advance including compiling academic records and test scores. Private boarding schools may also request writing samples, application essays and teacher recommendations. If the student is admitted, they should apply to the nearest US consular office for a visa (See more in the 'Visas' section below). Many private boarding schools also require a standardised admissions exam such as the SSAT or the ISEE. Contact information for these testing organisations is listed below:

The Educational Record Bureau 345 East 47th Street New York, New York 10017 USA www.erbtest.org/pages/ERB_ISEE.html Tel: 001 800 989 3721 ext. 8875 or 001 914 925-3690 (for information to sit the test in London)

Private Day Schools
International students wishing to apply for admission to private day schools should follow much the same procedure as those applying to public day schools. Private day schools generally require a more formal application and charge fees once the student is enrolled.

For further information on private schools, consult Peterson's Private Secondary Schools or The Handbook of Private Schools, available for reference at the EAS.

VISAS
International students accompanying parents who are working, studying or performing diplomatic service in the United States usually attend public schools tuition-free on the basis of their family's residence and payment of local taxes. These students' visa status is based on that of their parents.

International students planning to live with relatives or friends while attending high school will require a student visa and will only be allowed to attend for one year. Enquiries should be made with the appropriate US consular officials in the student's home country regarding visa restrictions and application procedures. Parents should contact the particular schools involved to determine if they are eligible to issue a visa form. If the school is eligible and meets admission requirements, the student may be admitted. If the school is not authorised to issue a form, they may contact the nearest Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) office for details on how to gain authorisation. This process takes time, so plan accordingly. In the case of students attending public schools on visa status, school systems must individually decide whether or not to charge the student tuition.

FURTHER RESOURCES
EAS houses a reference library with further information about private and public secondary school. Opening times are Mondays from 1.30pm to 7.00pm or Tuesdays-Fridays from 1.30pm to 5.00pm.
The National Association of Independent Schools (75 Federal, Boston, MA 02110, USA) annually publishes these booklets they will send overseas for a postage fee:

· Boarding Schools: contains addresses and brief descriptions of accredited private boarding schools.

· Special Programmes: contains lists of boarding schools offering ESL, the International Baccalaureate, summer programmes and learning disability programmes.

· Parent's Guide and Directory of Independent Schools

INTERNET RESOURCES
· www.erbtest.org/pages/ERB_ISEE.html: information regarding the ISEE as well as a list of the schools which require the ISEE for admission.
· www.petersons.com: Peterson's Web site provides contact information and profiles of private secondary schools in the US.
· www.ssat.org: on-line registration for the SSAT and profiles of the schools which require the test for admission.

EAS also compiles an information sheet called Secondary School Exchange for those who are interested in short-term student exchange.