Features of Education

Autonomy. There are government-approved subjects: science, math, English, and social studies. Some states impose compulsory lessons in first aid and sex education. But otherwise, schools write their own programs and schedules. They can add courses in foreign languages, art, environmental studies, and so on. Universities also enjoy wide autonomy in choosing their faculty and research topics.

K-12. This is the common name of the U.S. school system. There are 13 years of schooling in America: one year of kindergarten (K) + 12 years of secondary education (elementary and middle school together). Sometimes people also speak of K-14 (kindergarten + two-year college) and K-16 (kindergarten + bachelor’s degree).

Sports. Physical Education plays a large role in the U.S. educational system. Not only in high school but also in college. Universities offer generous scholarships for athletes. Students are always evaluated by two indicators: academics and sports. Schools have many clubs: basketball, soccer, rugby, volleyball and others.

Conditions for foreign nationals. Most foreigners study in private schools. This is due to the fact that by law they can enter the public school only from 9 to 12 grade (high school period) and only for one year. Higher education institutions often set different prices for foreign students. Tuition for international students and those from other states is 2 to 3 times higher than for locals.

Practice-oriented. The U.S. education system provides students with practical knowledge that is relevant to real-life situations. This includes lessons on health, nutrition, sex education, and other topics.

Changing Schools. Many American schools correspond to only one level of education. That is, one building houses a primary school, another a middle school, and a third a high school. Students may change between two and three schools in 12 years.