Since schooling is an ongoing topic and we come from all around the world; I felt it would be interesting to find out how the educational system is organized in different countries.

In the United States, it is generally organized along these lines.

Elementary School kindergarten (age 5)
grades 1-6

Junior High or grades 7-8
Middle School grades 7-9


High School grades 9 (or 10) through 12
(alternative)
High School grades 9-10
Senior High School grades 11-12


College (also called University)
2 year degree Associates
4 year degree Bachelors


Graduate School
Masters Degree (2 or 3 year program)
Doctorate Degree (2 year program after completion of Masters
Degree)

A medical Doctors degree is a 4 to 6 year program after completion of the Bachelors Degree

In England:

3-4 - Nursery (optional)
4-5 - 11 = Primary School
11 - 16 = Secondary School - GCSEs, end of cumpulsory ed.
16 - 18 = Sixth Form - 'A' levels, often at the same school.
18 - 21 = University (bachelors)

Scotland starts a year later, does 'standards' instead of GCSEs and 'highers' instead of 'A' levels. They generally cover less material and as such, Scottish degrees usually devote most of the first year to covering the rest of the 'A' level syllabus.

Education is free for all who want but there's also a vibrant private sector. Some selection in state schools remains (Grammar schools), the government's tried to stamp it out but has met parental opposition. University is free at the point of use for poor students in the form of government loans, repaid when earning a decent salary. Scottish students get completely free university education :mad:

[ 03-24-2005, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

Usually:

Elementary
Grades K-6 (K being kindergarten)

Junior High
Grades 7-9

High School
Grades 10-12

Not sure about university though. Probably the same as in the states.

[ 03-24-2005, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: Sir Goulum ]

Dam beat me to it. ;)

In Australia:

Kindergarten(Kindi): 4 years, optional

Pre Primary: 5 years

Primary school: 6-7 till 12-13( 7 if your born in the second part of the year). years 1-7

High School:12-13 till 17. Years 8-12 ( 11 and 12 optional )

For the UK, some secondary schools have their own 6th form attached, so you don't have to go to a separate college. There is also something called a middle school, not very common and i don't know much about them but the are for what would normally be older primary and younger secondary pupils.