US Schooling - Writers Forum

Annanan1 · 05-22-2008, 07:52 AM

dose anyone know anything about US schooling system. i need to know at what ages kids enter into each of the different levels and more importantly what they learn in each secotion. i.e what lessons would a typical 16 year old take and would that be in highschool.

Ilasir Maroa · 05-22-2008, 09:24 AM

It's a big system, with plenty of variation... could you narrow down the query some? In general:

Ages
Kindergarten 5-6
1st Grade 6-7
2nd Grade 7-8
3rd Grade 8-9
4th Grade 9-10
5th Grade 10-11
6th Grade 11-12
7th Grade 12-13
8th Grade 13-14
9th Grade 14-15
10 Grade 15-16
11th Grade 16-17
12th Grade 17-18

Grades k- eight are usually in elementary school and middle school, with 9-12 in highschool

Now, lessons would depend on the curriculum, though in general, schools in the same state have the same curriculum, and there's likely to be correlations across states. Specific questions would be much simpler to answer.

Annanan1 · 05-22-2008, 09:36 AM

i am not sure probably make it Califoria i think. i have a 16 year old i want to know what sort of lessons he would be taking.

lin · 05-22-2008, 11:54 AM

Junior high (or "middle school") can be grades 7,8,9 and high school 10, 11, 12 or HS 9-12 with junior high only two years.

I doubt the subjects studied at any given age differ al that much from other places. Many states require a year of state history. Some states require things like Sex education or a course in being non-racist, etc. Many high schools offer driver's education classes (hey, which do you need more to be an American: driving or calculus?)

I would think you could easily google up class offering or catalogs from prep schools

A Vaulter's Insanity · 05-22-2008, 12:17 PM

Well today was my last day of my junior year (11th grade). So I can tell you what the curriculum for a typical Arizona high school student it is. And Im sure Cali Wouldnt be too different.

(Im assuming your son is going to be a sophmore since he is 16)
Geometry OR Algerbra 2
Principles Of English
Literary Explorations
Biology
And then electives like drivers ed

Junior year is something like this
Algebra 2 or Pre Calculus
principles of English 2
1 English elective
History
And then some more electives

In AZ, im not sure if its all states, you have to have 21 credits. Each semester you take a class is half a credit. There are 6 hours in a typical school day, each hour you go to a different class. In some cases, schools have an A hour or a 0 hour that you can volunteer to take and starts before school. Through out your high school career. You have to get a certain amount of credits of each subject. Like I have to have 4 English credits which means I have to take 8 English classes between 9th and 12th grade. You also have to have a certain amount of math, social studies, foreign language, fine arts, and elective credits. Dont ask me for specific numberrs cause I dont remember.

But yea, thats all I can think of atm. If you have any more questions, i would be happy to help you.

edropus · 05-22-2008, 12:30 PM

Depends on the kid, as far as some classes go. Math, for example. A 16 year old might be taking anything from basic algebra to advanced calculus. Coming into a new school they'd look at his transcripts and place him accordingly.

But basically it goes:
(required)
Math (Algebra-Calculus)
English (Pretty standard literature/writing)
History (U.S. and world, class/age combo depends on school)
Science (Usually goes Remedial, Earth, Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

Then you've got a butt-ton of electives.

Annanan1 · 05-22-2008, 02:21 PM

this is for story i am writing, anyone know what add on's would be.

Ilasir Maroa · 05-22-2008, 05:14 PM

Add-ons? Like non-core(math, history, science, reading/righting) classes?

joifulartist84 · 05-22-2008, 05:39 PM

Sounds like you want more about high school. I don't know about California but I can tell you lots about Michigan (midwest, middle class, very conservative) if you need to know more.

I took some Advanced Placement classes. At the end of those, you can pay like $50 USD and take a test to get college credit for it. They're available in Science, English, Math and Social Studies, I think. Also, there are some required standardized tests that if you score well enough on, you can get scholarship money for colleges within the state.

You have to take a certain number and type of classes to graduate. Like, you have to take one year of gym (physical education), a health class, an art class. As long as you've taken the required classes, you can take what you want. My 9th and 10th grade classes were pretty full up because I took band, but then I changed high schools and hated the new band director so I quit and had more time to take Drawing and Painting classes.

Something you may want to consider is where the school is. Many inner-city schools have lots of kids with not enough (good) teachers, and don't get enough state funding to have nice programs (like, they have 20 year old basketball uniforms because they can't afford new ones). My second high-school put in a new pool and the art department was able to get all kinds of new equipment the year after I graduated.

When I was in school and funding got cut or there wasn't enough to go around, the arts departments usually got the short end of the stick and the athletic departments got most of it. I think that may be changing, but I can't be sure.

Sabsz · 05-22-2008, 05:44 PM

Well, it depends on where your story is taking place.

I live in New York so this is how this basically work:

Highschool is grades 9-12 and junior high 6-8. Depending on the size of the school, there will be different schedules. In my highschool, there are five thousand people. So there are different schedules. Period 1 starts at 7:15 and Period 12, which is the last period, ends at 5:20. It doesn't mean that you're in school to 7:15 to 5. I have a 2-10 schedule. Meaning, I go in second period, which starts at 8, and get out 10th pd which ends at 3:30. My school is so big that it has to be like this. Most grades have an appointed schedule anyway.

Freshmans: 3-10
Sophmores: 5-12
Juniors: 2-9
Seniors: 1-7

That way the school isn't too overcrowded at once.

Every class is about fourty five minutes but lunch and trailer classes are short. Attendence period is 2nd and 9th which means your offical attendence is taken that period.

The actual curriculum depends on the student. If your student is brilliant, he/she might be taking AP courses which are college courses. Honor classes are typically harder and have more work.

Math classes can be either Alegbra, Geometery, Calculus, Math A or Math B. Though, I think Math A and B are leaving the schools.

In English classes, we mostly study Shakespeare or other classes. Sophomore non honors classes take a class called 'Writing Seminar' which teaches you the basics of writing.

For Science, you have to take a class and lab. Lab you have to go every week and complete a lab. At the end, you need a minium of 30 labs (though that number may vary.) Without 30 labs, you can not sit for the regents. The regents are an exam at the end of the year which basically decides whether or not you can recieve the credit for the class. If you pass, you take another higher grade class. If you fail, you retake the class. BTW, regents are for every major subject.

There are also other classes like languages, drama, bio ethics, etc.

If you need anything else, feel free to ask. =D I hoped I help.

A Vaulter's Insanity · 05-22-2008, 07:53 PM

In order to be exact, you need someone from cali. I may have been born there, but I didnt go to high school there, so I dont know all the specifics. What area are you going for? I know a little bit about northern Cali schools. In which case its 1-5 for elementary 6-8 for junior high 9-12 for high school. But as far as the scheduling goes, I have no clue. You need someone from there to tell you about it.