Generally, public schooling is free in the US. But, the US school curriculum encourages ex-pat parents to admit their children into a local international school rather than a public one.

Like other facets, the US education system is also quite costly for higher education. Plenty of students end up with a large student debt after graduating because of the costs, despite selecting a school that suits their abilities.

READ OUR GUIDE ON THE US EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SCHOOLS

Developing individuality and specific skills set are two things that the education system in the US focuses on. It encourages desired subjects and extracurricular activities quite early in the child’s educational journey. There are also local international schools that offer different types of country-specific curriculums.

The US does not have a set curriculum throughout the country so you have a lot of options. You will definitely find some of the best schools and higher education institutions across the US, right from preschool to doctorate degrees.

This section of the guide discusses the basics of the educational system, such as grading, school times, and what to expect from a typical curriculum.

In this segment, we cover:
– US Education System
– Daycare and Kindergarten
– Primary and Secondary Schools
– International Schools
– Higher Education
– Language Schools

US EDUCATION SYSTEM

As many states have their own rules and regulations, the US education system is different in all states, with regards to the local laws, such as mandatory schooling age and grade division. It is split into preschool, primary school, middle school, high school followed by undergraduate, graduate, and further degree programs in higher education institutions. US Education System: Facts – Public education is free from Kindergarten to Grade 12. – Though it may vary between states, compulsory education usually starts at 5 or 6 years. – The education system in the US is called K-12, which is short for Kindergarten to Grade 12. – A common name for ‘university’ is ‘college’. While both names are usually used interchangeably, ‘college’ mostly refers to private universities, while ‘university’ is used when talking about publicly funded higher educational institutions. – Bachelor’s degree in the US is called an undergraduate degree while Master’s degree is a graduate degree. Post-graduate is for doctoral or other advanced studies. – Graduate school is a common name for university-level institutions that offer Master’s programs. The US education system divides its students as follows:

The US System: Grading The public-schools use both the grading systems; letters (A to F) and numerical (percentage from 0 to 100). In high school and higher educational institutions, students are introduced to the Grade Point Average (GPA) grading system that ranks their performance from 0 to 4.

US Education System: Academic year Most of the schools split their year into two semesters: August/September until December, and January until May/June. The number of instructional days is usually 180. The US schools have three breaks as follows:

US Education System: School hours Mostly students are in school between 7:00 or 9:00 till 14:00 or 16:00. The duration of school hours depend on the grade the student is in. Kindergartens have three and six hour options. Elementary school students spend about 6 hours at school each day, while middle and high school students spend around 7 hours every day. School Life School life would be how the student adjusts to it, but mostly, children love going to school in the US. Public schools do not have school uniforms but some private schools do. As you are aware, children in the US are allotted lockers but in some schools, a locker is not mandatory as you have to purchase one if required to keep your supplies. There is one teacher for all subjects in preschool and elementary school but middle and high school have a different teacher for each subject. Transportation is available depending on the school, district, distance and age of the student. Extracurricular activities like sports, music, arts, communication, technology, and many other types are encouraged and take place after school hours. In some cases, students have to pay for their own sports equipment and supplies. Public and Private School: Differences Here are the basic differences between both types of schools: – Public schools are free as they are funded by the government while private schools are expensive as they function on student fees. – Private schools have smaller classrooms than the ones in public schools. – Private schools are allowed to have a more liberal approach to the curriculum, though they need to meet certain government standards. – Though teachers at private schools are mostly highly qualified, they do not need to meet state-determined criteria to be hired. – Private schools often have more facilities and advanced technologies than public schools. Schools in the US: Admission and Documentation For admission in a school, documentation isn’t very elaborate. You would be required to submit only the following along with an admission form given by the school: – Prior school records (if applicable) – Proof of age of the child (most commonly a birth certificate, but a physician’s certificate, adoption papers, or parents’ affidavit might also qualify) – Proof of residence in the school district (copies of utility bills, lease agreements, or affidavits) – Proof of required immunizations Your Social Security Number or the child’s race or ethnicity are sometimes collected to be used in school statistics. School districts are not allowed to ask you to provide information on the child’s immigration status. If your child is under an F-1 visa, the only public schools they can attend are SVEP certified high schools (grades nine to twelve) up to 12 months, therefore, private schools are usually a better option as they do not have such restrictions. As a working migrant in the US, your child can get admitted into any school.

DAYCARE AND KINDERGARTEN

Daycare is pre-school or pre-kindergarten level which does not come under compulsory education in the US. Kindergarten, on the other hand, is a compulsory schooling level and part of the primary education. Daycare, Childcare, and Nursery Whether you opt for daycare, childcare, or nursery, the environment is completely based on playing. Childcare Childcare centers function from 8:00 or 9:00 to 18:00 or 19:00. The curriculum is usually focused on social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development and the kids are encouraged to learn through games and socializing. Preschool Nursery and daycare do not come under compulsory education. They are generally controlled by a person who looks after children at their home and the owner does not have to be an educational professional. This type of daycare is usually affordable and offers a home environment with a smaller group of children. Other preschool programs which are shorter (2 or 3 hours a day) are focused on preparing children for a class environment few days a week. For your child’s safety, it is advisable to select a center that abides by the state’s licensing regulations. Preschool: Age Parents can put their kids in preschool when they are 3 months old but mostly they put their children at 2 to 3 years. Preschool: Fees As nannies are quite expensive, parents prefer daycare centers which are an affordable option. Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, and Oregon are among the most expensive states in the US.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Children are in primary for 7 years and in secondary school for 6 years. They can get free education in the public schools if they belong to a school district. You can find schools in your area by visiting Great Schools. Elementary School: Kindergarten Public kindergartens are free of charge as it is considered to be part of the mandatory elementary education. This education level usually lasts for a year. A day at kindergartner is more structured than a day at preschool. The children are introduced to reading, writing, and math through scheduled lessons between play times. Elementary School: Primary Children attend primary schools from ages 6 or 7. Primary school subjects include: – Science – Mathematics (basics) – English language (reading and writing skills) – Social studies (geography and history) – Music – Arts and crafts – Physical education – Foreign language (some schools) Middle School Students graduate from their elementary schools and enter middle school (or junior high school) at age 12. Mostly, middle school subjects include: – Science (earth and life) – Mathematics (algebra and geometry) – Social studies (ancient, medieval, and US history and geography) – Computer Science – English language (reading and writing skills) – Foreign language (French, Spanish, or Latin) – Arts and crafts (painting, woodworking, and others) – Music (instrumental music, choir, or band) – Physical education and sports High School: Secondary In order to graduate high school, a student needs to collect a certain number of credits by attending a certain number of subjects over these years. High school curriculum comprises of core and elective subjects; each subject per semester stands for one credit. Students usually choose their elective subjects based on their career path. Generally, the main subjects in high school are: – Science (biology, chemistry, astronomy, etc.) – Mathematics (algebra, geometry, calculus, etc.) – Social Studies (politics, sociology, law, etc.) – English (literature, creative writing, journalism, etc.) – Art (music, theatre, dance, etc.) Higher Education There are no national standardized tests; instead, these tests may be given at a school or state-level. The student usually gives an exit exam in order to receive a high school diploma. For admission into universities, students need a high Grade Point Average (GPA) and have to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT). Many have said that these tests are easier than high school graduation tests in Asia. Higher Education: Scholarships Plenty of scholarships are available for international students all over the country. Besides their GPA, and SAT or CAT scores, other eligibility requirements may include: – The subject/area of study – Country of origin – Gender – University or location – Financial needs Some international scholarships commonly available: – The American Association of University Women offers scholarships for women pursuing post-graduate programs – The Aga Khan Foundation aids students from developing countries – Fulbright Foreign Student Program offers one of the most popular scholarship programs for international students. School Costs If you have decided to send your children to a private school, the tuition fees, according to Private School Review, would be approximately as follows: The Most Expensive Areas for Private School Tuition

The Affordable States for Private School Tuition

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Expatriate parents find the curriculum of international schools very attractive. The US has plenty of international schools which are mostly located in the big cities. International Schools in the US French Schools – French American International School (PK-8, Portland, OR) – French-American International School (PK-12, San Francisco, CA) – Lycée Français de Los Angeles (PK-12, Los Angeles, CA) – Lycée Français de Chicago (PK-12, Chicago, IL) – Lycée Rochambeau (PK-12, Bethesda, MD) – Lycée Français de New York (PK-12, New York, NY) British Schools – British International School of New York (PK-8, New York, NY) – British International School of Chicago, South Loop (PK-12, Chicago, IL) and Lincoln Park (PK-5, Chicago, IL) – British International School of Boston (PK-12, Boston, MA) – British International School of Houston (PK-12, Houston, TX) – British International School of Charlotte (PK-12, Charlotte, SC) German Schools – German International School (PK-12, Washington, DC) – German International School New York (PK-12, New York, NY) Other International Schools – United Nations International School (PK-12, New York, NY) – International School of Indiana (PK-12, Indianapolis, IN) – Austin International School (PK-5, Austin, TX) – The Awty International School Houston (PK-12, Houston, TX) International Schools: Fees – Depending on the state as well as the ranking and popularity of the school, many International Schools in the US are expensive. The approximate annual school tuition fees across the country are:

International School: Requirements The application forms can be filled online and the process could take a year. The following documents would be required: – Parent questionnaire – Record of school transcripts – Teacher recommendations – Prior teacher evaluation forms – Language test results At some schools, the students would be required to attend an interview or complete entry exams.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Many firms look for candidates from the Ivy League, which is a group of eight prestigious top universities in the US as they are highly ranked in the quality of education.

– Brown University (Providence, RI)
– Columbia University (New York, NY)
– Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
– Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)
– Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
– Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
– University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
– Yale University (New Haven, CT)

There are also other higher education institutions that offer renowned academic programs.

Universities like:
– Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
– University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
– Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
– Duke University (Durham, NC)
– Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)

Liberal Arts Universities like:
– Williams College (Williamstown, MA)
– Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
– Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
– Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA
– Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT)

The Best Universities for International Students according to Forbes magazine
– Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
– Yale University (New Haven, CT)
– Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
– Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
– Columbia University (New York, NY)
– California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, PA)
– Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (New York, NY)
– Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
– Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
– Babson College (Babson Park, MA)

Higher Education: Fees
– Higher education fees are quite high. Besides tuition fees, students have to spend on housing and day-to-day living too.

Average University Costs in the US, according to US News: