How does the grade system work in the US?

[imsocool1806]

In the UK we go K-12 but i've crossed paths with a few Americans and they have it all wrong? well not wrong but different so someone pls clarify for me

[libsaretards]

We have K-12, broken down into 3 groups. Those phases are elementary school (also known as primary in some school districts), middle school (also known as junior-high) and high school. Then there are myriad private schools with their own systems. Below are how each phase is broken down in public education:

Elementary/Primary school: Kindergarten starts this phase and is the first official grade that counts in education. Depending on the school district, this phase is K-4, K-5 or even K-6.

Middle School/Junior High: Districts that break primary school into K-4 typically classify this range as grades 5-8. Those who use primary school model K-5 would consider their middle school grades to be grades 6-8. The ones who consider their middle school as 7-8 typically call it junior-high instead of middle school. The terms middle school and junior-high are interchangeable. Regardless of what it is called, this age range is typically ages 11-14/15.

High School: In the U. S. this is grades 9-12 all across the board in public schools. Due to federal funding and mandates, this is 98% the case. Only the private schools start high school in 10th grade, and even that is rare. These are the grade levels where your grades really matter. For most Americans this is the first time they will have a GPA and real consequences for failed courses. This age range is typically between 14/15 year olds to 17-19 year olds, depending on when birthdays have landed and if there were any delays in starting school or failed/repeated grades. This is the level where colleges look back at grades to determine admission. Even though a U. S. citizen is legally considered an adult at 18, most of society does not see one as an adult until high school graduation.

[AviatorTom]

Excellent description. To add a few things:

Some school districts also have a pre-K, one level before Kindergarten, for 3-4 year olds.

A student typically advances from grade to grade, although a student may be "held back" and repeat a grade of their performance is not good enough.

Typical school year runs from August to May for some school districts, others from September to June, with 1-2 week breaks for Christmas, mid-winter recess, and Easter break.

[imsocool1806]

@AviatorTom @libsaretards ah that's what ties everything together - thank you to both of y'all

[MrOracle]

Different areas do it somewhat differently. The original standard was:

Kindergarten
Elementary school, 1-6
Junior high school, 7-8
High school, 9-12.

Today, many places do this:

Elementary school, 1-5
Middle school, 6-8
High school, 9-12.

Or

Elementary school, 1-6
Middle school, 7-9
High school, 10-12

How things are arranged is often dictated by school capacities vs. student population, and may be rearranged to handle population spikes or drops.

[WhitneySnow]

K-12. Elementary school middle school high school.

[imsocool1806]

how come someone who's my age is in 8th grade and i'm in 11th?

[WhitneySnow]

Not sure. 15 is kinda old for 8th grade and kinda young for 11th.

[imsocool1806]

what year are you in being sixteen - or college/something?

[imsocool1806]

wait wait i think i get it - is there a K1 and K2? like an LKG and UKG

[WhitneySnow]

No. I’m in 10th grade. Most people in my year are 15 or 16. Americans don’t go to college till we’re 17 or 18. What we call college you guys call uni.

[imsocool1806]

yeah same lol im so confused then about the 8th grade thing - oh also quick question - do you have some exam like GCSEs if you know what that is?

[WhitneySnow]

I think all states have standardized testing requirements and we have the SATs that you have to take to get into college.

[imsocool1806]

thank you yes that does make sense

[MTC29]

K-12, but remember it was the Stoneage when I was in school.

K-6 was elementary school.

Depending on which region of the country you lived in, Grades 7 and 8 were known as junior high or intermediate school.

Grades 9-12 were high school.

Where a student's birthday falls impacts how old he (or she) is in each grade. I graduated from high school at age 17, while my nephew began 12th grade just weeks before his 18th birthday.

[Miristheiss]

Class? K-12... then college.

Grade? A is the best
B
C
D
F Fail

Usually 100% to 93% or 90% is A
93% or 90% to 85% or 80% is B
and below those come C, D, F. I think scoring 65% or 60% and below is a failing grade.

[imsocool1806]

thank you - i realise it's weirdly worded - different places use different words for it i say "year 10 or whichever year i'm in" that's how it is in england anyway

[MCheetah]

Grades 1-5 - Elementary School. Ages 7-11.

Grades 6-8 - Junior High (Middle) School - Ages 12-14

Grades 9-12 - High School. Ages 15-18.

Undergrad College (four years) - Ages 18-22.

[SignedAutographs]

My schools were "Pre", "K-4", "5-6", "7-8", "9-12"

[Anonymous]

k-12

[imsocool1806]

so what year would I be?

[Opinion Owner]

a 15 year old is either 9th or 10th

[imsocool1806]

oh well that makes sense thank you

[Anonymous]

same k-12