The American education system begins with optional preschool and pre-K programs, followed by mandatory kindergarten at age 5. Elementary school then covers grades 1-5. Secondary school consists of junior high (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Some areas have different grade configurations for elementary and secondary schools. Optional boarding schools provide full-time housing. Private schools charge tuition but don't provide housing. College requires passing entrance exams and maintaining grades to apply for admission, scholarships, grants or loans to fund a 2 or 4-year degree program, with some majors requiring pre-coursework. Graduate programs include a 2-year master's degree or longer 3-6 year PhD.

1. The American
Education System
From preschool to pre-med

2. Preschool/Pre-K
• Ages 0-4
• Not obligatory
• Tuition-based
• Some get state and federal funding
• The more you pay, the better the
quality.

3. Kindergarten
• Age 5-6
• First year of school that is obligatory
for all children living in the U.S.

4. Elementary/Primary
School
• 1st year of primary school is
technically 2nd year of education but
we call it 1st grade
• Grade = 1) year of education in
primary or secondary school, 2) score
on an exam, a paper, homework, etc.
• Grades 1-5 = elementary school

5. Secondary: Junior High
and High School
• 7 years – Grades 6-12
• Junior high = grades 6-8
• High School = grades 9-12
freshman – 9th grade
sophomore – 10th grade
junior – 11th grade
senior – 12th grade

6. BUT…not all schools are
set up like that
• In Pawhuska, Oklahoma:
- Kindergarten
-Elementary (grades 1-4)
-Indian Camp (grades 5-6)
-Junior High (grades 7-8)
-High School (grades 9-12)

7. Boarding Schools
• For education and manners
• You eat, sleep, and study there
• Tuition-based
• Very expensive
• Scholarships available

8. Private Schools
• Tuition-based and fairly expensive
• You do not sleep there
• High level of education and manners
-usually only for the rich
-smaller classes, can be religious
-students go on to best universities

9. Applying to College
(university)
• A student must pass a college entry
exam: the SAT or ACT
• A student must meet a determined
G.P.A. (grade point average)
• A student can apply before receiving
the high school diploma (and will be
accepted after the university receives the
diploma)

10. Applying for Financial
Aid
• Scholarships, grants and loans
• You can fill out a FAFSA form to see
what the government can give you
• university scholarships
• Private scholarships
- a family
- an association

11. Scholarships
• You must maintain a certain G.P.A.,
etc.
• You must apply yearly or per
semester
• Some are for the entire college
career and some are just a one-time
thing

12. Grants
• Free money
• Usually given by the government
• Income requirement

13. Loans
• You have to pay it back
• Universities
• Government
• Banks

14. College/University/
Undergraduate school
• 2-year degree = associate´s degree
-one can further their education at a
4-year university
• 4-year degree = bachelor´s degree
-major = specific course of study
-you don´t have to choose a major
until your second year

15. Pre-something
• Some majors require 2 years of general
university studies before entering the
specified school where they will study 2
additional years, e.g. pre-law, pre-med,
pre-nursing, etc.
• Students must obtain their bachelor´s
degree in Pre-something before they can
be qualified and practicing

16. Study Abroad
• To study in another country, anywhere in
the world (similar to Erasmus)
• Terms can be for a summer, a full
semester, or a year.
• Students have to find their own funding
• Students apply at their university

17. Graduate School
• 2 years
• Students must have a bachelor´s
degree and will receive a master´s in
a specified field
• MBA = master´s in business administration
• Student teachers

18. PhD = Doctorate Degree
• 3-6 years
• Depends on individual´s ability and
thesis selected
• Thesis = VERY INTENSIVE
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