Middle School / Junior High School
Many people use these terms interchangeably, even though they were originally created as different types of high school. Middle school lasts from sixth to eighth grade, while junior high school lasts from seventh to ninth. Junior high is also considered to have more of a focus on required subjects, test preparation, a fixed schedule, and is generally similar to high school. MIddle school emphasizes students: their all-round development, including their emotional and social development. Teachers give them more freedom in the choice of subjects and hold classes in small groups. Today the differences between junior high and high school are not so strong.
High school classes in the U.S. are taught by different teachers, each of them an expert in his or her subject. The emphasis is on English, science, and math. These three subjects plus history and sports are required. But students choose their own level: basic or advanced. The latter is for those who want to study subjects in depth. Also, all students must take 1-2 additional subjects. They can be very different: from debates to STEM. That is why there are no permanent classes in American schools – all students are “mixed up” because of the individual schedule.
Tests and quizzes are given regularly. A student’s final grade in high school depends on them. There are no final examinations here. It is sufficient to have “satisfactory” in all subjects.
Senior High School
The final level of secondary education is high school. Children from the age of 14 are accepted there. In America there are mixed junior / senior high schools, where you study for six years until graduation. And there are separate ones, which are in different buildings. High school lasts from ninth to twelfth grade. And this is the only opportunity for foreigners to study at a public exchange school (only one year). The rest of the time only private institutions are available to them. But even in public institutions foreign students have to pay from 3,000 to 10,000 USD for one year of study. Read more about enrollment in U.S. schools in the article about secondary education.
In high school, all study focuses around college admission: students pull up their GPA and prepare for the SAT/ACT. Required courses:
- math;
- English;
- History;
- science;
- sports;
- visual arts.
In addition to the basic subjects, students can optionally enroll in Honors or Advanced Placements (AP). The former are advanced placements in subjects, and the latter are university-level courses. There are a total of 33 courses in six academic fields. There’s even Japanese, macroeconomics, and mechanics. At the end of the course, students take an oral or written exam. Excellent grades in AP subjects increase the chances of admission to a prestigious university.
The role of AP courses is likely to increase significantly in the near future. In 2021, the College Board permanently eliminated the SAT Subject Test. It helped graduates demonstrate their knowledge of specific subjects, such as physics or chemistry. These were required as core subjects for some majors. Advanced Placements can be a great alternative to the SAT Subject Test.
High schools do not administer final exams. Instead, students take standardized tests: SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT (American College Testing). These tests are required for admission to U.S. universities. In 2021, many U.S. universities, including the Ivy League, made the SAT/ACT an optional requirement because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible that this decision will continue in the future. Standardized tests have long been criticized in the United States.