High school

After middle or junior high school, U.S.

students go to high school. Going to
school is free in the United States, including
high schools. Students do not need to pay
tuitions, and even textbooks and lunches
are free. Of course, we are talking
about public schools. If parents choose to
send their kids to private schools, they need
to pay very expensive tuitions. High school
is the last four years of school that students
in the U.S. are required to attend by law.
High school students are divided by
grades. It begins at 9th grade and
finishes with 12th grade. Some high
schools, even public high schools, have
admission exams or an application
process. Public schools admit
students based on where they live. In order
to successfully complete high
school, students have to complete a series
of core classes including math, English,
science, history, a foreign language, and
gym or physical education. Students usually
can also choose to take electives, or
specialized courses in a subject that
interests them. Some high schools in the
U.S. have exit exams that students are
required to pass in addition to completing
their courses in order to graduate and earn a
high school diploma. A law called the No
Child Left Behind Act requires high
schools that get federal money to make
students take a standardized exam every
year. A high school diploma is required for
students who want to continue on to
college and is considered a minimum
requirement for any jobs.
High schools classes are designed to
prepare students for college. Some high
schools offer specialized skills so
that students can find work after
graduation without going to college. Those
are called vocational high schools. In high
school, some students have the
opportunity to take Advanced Placement
(AP) classes. These are college level
classes. If the students pass an exam after
taking AP classes, they can get college
credit. In high school, students move from
class to class throughout the school day.