Primary and Secondary School
The education department in the USA follows the K-12 system which stands for ‘Kindergarten to 12th‘ and is further broken into elementary(K-5), middle school (Grades 6-8), and high school or secondary education (Grades 9-12).
Students must attend primary and secondary school for a total of twelve years. Then, around the age of six, students begin primary or elementary school. This tends to last until 5th grade.
After school completion, students may decide to enrol in a college or a university. This stage has been coined as higher education. An assessment takes place throughout the year, and students receive a Grade Point Average or GPA, which determines their next step.
Grading System of the USA
As mentioned earlier, the schooling system in the USA follows the GPA system. These are generally percentages that are later on converted to grades. It is explained below for easier understanding:
| Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA |
| 4.0 and does not take the number of courses into account | 5.0 and takes the level of difficulty into account |
One must keep these following pointers in mind of the education in the USA:
- Must pay close attention to the admission requirements of the college, University and other degree programs.
- If one is applying as an international student, then one must make sure that the grades are equivalent to the USA.
The table shows correspondent grade and GPA:
| Grade | GPA | Percentage |
| A | 4.00 | 93-100 |
| A – | 3.67 | 92-90 |
| B + | 3.33 | 87-89 |
| B | 3 | 83-86 |
| B – | 2.67 | 80-82 |
| C + | 2.33 | 77-79 |
| C | 2 | 73-76 |
| C – | 1.67 | 70-72 |
| D + | 1.33 | 67-69 |
| D | 1 | 60-66 |
| F | 1 | 0-59 |
| I | 0 | Incomplete |
Levels of Study of the U.S. Higher Education System
As one completes school, one has to undertake an undergraduate degree. Then, one must pursue postgraduate. Finally, if one wishes to delve into further research, one can choose Doctoral and Research Programs.
- Undergraduate
This generally spans four to 4 years, and an individual can enrol in a community college or a university. Moreover, a student can study in a community college for the first two years and then transfer to a college and continue a four-year course.
In the initial years, an individual will develop a knowledge of various disciplines before choosing a particular field. One must select their majors by their third year.
- Postgraduate
A student will write a thesis that lasts for two years in the postgraduate program. To be eligible for admission, one needs to have their latest GMAT\ GRE score, work experience, Letter of Recommendation, LSAT scores, proof of financial stability, Statement of Purpose and Immigration details.
- Doctoral and Research Programs
After completing the postgraduate degree, one can opt for a PhD that lasts for a minimum of 3-4 years. Many universities also offer admission to PhD courses directly after their Master’s.
Type of Educational Institutes
The educational institutes are characterized according to the infrastructure, funding, curriculum and teaching methodology. These are the following type of institutes:
- Private colleges or universities
- Community colleges
- Public institutes- State College or University
- Institute of Technology
More than 4,000 institutions that are accredited comprise the U.S education system. The difference between each of these institutions are explained below:
- Private colleges or universities
The tuition fees at private institutions tend to be comparatively high than any state-regulated college or University. Besides, these have a better staff to student ratio and hence, a higher amount of resources. However, they are smaller in size and espouse diversity and inclusivity.
For instance, the Ivy League are prestigious private institutes due to the quality of academic standards and competitive eligibility parameters. Some well-known names are Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, Cornell College, Princeton University and others.
- Community colleges
These colleges offer 2-year programs, and students can pursue a certificate course or associate degree. After that, students tend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities and complete their degrees.
- Public Institutes
The State government regulates these institutions, and the tuition fees are very affordable. Furthermore, residents can also avail discounts in their state universities.
- Institute of Technology
These offer a four-year degree in science and technology, which may be short-term or graduate programs.
Characteristics of the U.S. Educational System
The Educational Department U.S. ensures that the educational institutes are adequately maintained. They design their curriculum keeping this in mind. However, it has other distinctive characteristics that are discussed below:
- Research-Oriented
The U.S. universities have a research-oriented curriculum. As a result, many students wish to pursue research further.
- Federal Involvement is Limited
The Federal Department hardly interferes in the Education system in the U.S. These institutions have the authority to taking significant decisions by themselves.
- On-Campus Student Life
The USA is known for its inclusivity and diversity. The students can also invest themselves in extra-curricular activities.
- Employment opportunities
The USA offers ample job opportunities for its students. It is home to MNCs such as Google, Citigroup, FedEx, Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Microsoft, Ford, etc.
- Variety of programs
There are a plethora of programs available for its students. This is why the U.S. boasts the maximum number of international students globally.
- Leading Universities are Situated in the USA
According to the Q.S. Rankings, 2022, 5 out of the top 10 institutes in the world are located in the USA. As it is evident, the education system in the U.S. prepares students for employment and earn the desired figure.
