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One difficulty readers have in following school trends in different countries is the different names used forthe various class "forms" or classes. The term in America is
"grades", not to be confused with the same term used to describe the marks assigned to assess performance. America does not have a single unified national educational system. Each state has its own system, but all 50 states use the same 1-12 grades. The curriculum in the different states can vary significantly. In addition each state has separate school districts administered locally. There are, however, no confusing terms used like forms and
further complications such as "the upper fifth". With few exceptions, the classes throughout America are grade 1 through 12. Grades 1-6 are elementary school,
grades 7-8 are junior high or middle school and grades 9-12 are senior high school. Some times grade 6 is placed in middle school and grade 9 in junior high
school. A few private schools have affectations like using forms instead of grades.
One difficulty readers have in following school trends in different countries is the different names used forthe various class "forms" or classes. The term in America is
"grades", not to be confused with the same term used to describe the marks assigned to assess performance.
America does not have a single unified national, highly centralized educational system like France. Each state has its own system, but all 50 states use the same 1-12 grades. The curriculum in the different states can vary significantly. In addition each state has separate school districts administered locally. There are, however, no confusing terms used like forms and
further complications such as "the upper fifth". With few exceptions, the classes throughout America are grade 1 through 12.
A few private schools have British (But not French or German) affectations like using forms instead of grades.
American schools like schools around the world are divided into the basic nursery, primary, and secondary levels. The nursery level is quite varied, primarily because most of the schools are privately operated. The primary/secondary dlevels are relatively standard around the country with 12 grades. The major variation is in the transition from primary to secondary schools. For many years this transition occurred aft grade 7, although small rural schools often kept the children in primary schools through grade 8. States have set up middle schools to help this transition. Middle schools are similar to junior high schools, but mat take the chikdren begginning at grade 6.
The nursery level is quite varied, primarily because most of the schools are privately operated. As a result quality pre-schools have been primarily availavle to affluent families. Here therechavecbeen efforts to assist working fanmilies. The New Deal during the Depression set up Works Progress Administration pre-schools. Some companies like Kaiser Industries during World War II set up pre-schools for workers. One of the innovations of President Johnson's Great Society was Headstart to provide nursery schools for low-income families. Kindergarden is a little different. Some states have established a Kindergarden program as part of the school system, but this still varies widely from state to state.
Traditionally Grades 1-6 have been primary school. The one major exception has been small rural primary schools which might keep children through Grade 8. Primary school has many destinctive terms in the United States. While we use the term "primary education", we do not usually call the schools primary schools, although that term would be understood. Rather the termds used in America are elementary, grammar, and grade school. Note that grammar school is an outdated term, and grade school is an informal term. Many have seen nursery school as more of a child care facility. Many educators believe that quality nursery schools are a critical element in the school system.
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Traditionally grades 7-8 were junior high school. Sometimes grade 6 is placed in middle school and grade 9 in junior high school. The shift to secondary school at grade 7 was very common in the United States through World War II. After the War many states began a series of reforms entailing the replacement of junior high schools with middle schools. Another term for middle school is intermediate school, as it is intermediate between primary school and secondary school. Often the middle schools were for grades 6-8 and 9th grade was moved to senior high school. This pattern varies somewhat from state to state. A reader writes, "I think that you overemphasize the predominance of the 7th-8th Grade Junior High School over the 6th-8th Grade Middle School. I went to a junior high, but most school districts have now moved to middle schools."
Most senior high schools today are grades 9-12. Until the 1950s when junior highs were more common, some senior high schools began with grade 10. In the United States some see high schools as the beginning of secondary education. In the minds of many Americans there is a larger break between middle school and high school than between elementary and middle school. I think that this comes from the 19th century tradition of a basic education extending to 8th grade, with only middle and upper class kids going on to high school. A reader in California writes, "Where I live each town has its own school district, going up to 8th grade. The high school district is separate, with its own school board, and is fed by a half-dozen local elementary/intermediate districts. (It's not like anyone leaves school after 8th grade anymore! It's just that old patterns are never completely erased. I've noticed that some of the local roads are located on the borders of former Spanish land grants from 200 years ago.)" Educators to day are now debating the future of the 12th grade. Some see it as a largely waisted year inthe current school system.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
[The 1990s]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform
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[Australia]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
