In the United States, secondary education covers the final six or seven years of compulsory formal education. It concludes with the twelfth grade (ages 17–18). It begins in either the sixth grade (ages 11–12) or the seventh grade (ages 12–13), varying by state and, at times, by school district.
Secondary education in the United States is completed in two stages. The first stage, as classified by the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), is the "lower secondary stage," referred to as "middle school" or "junior high school." Middle schools serve students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, whereas junior high schools serve only students in the seventh and eighth grades.
The second stage is ISCED's "upper secondary stage," known as "high school" or "senior high school"; this serves students from the ninth through the twelfth grades. There is some debate regarding the precise age at which students transition to the next stage, and variations can be observed across different states; furthermore, middle schools often include grades that are almost invariably considered part of "primary school."
Academies
Today, "academy" is a common term denoting post-secondary education—particularly its most specialized or liberal arts-oriented aspects. However, during the 18th and 19th centuries, "academy" was the term used for what later came to be known as the high school. In most towns, there were no public schools above the primary level. Generally, colleges initially included a preparatory unit, which was gradually phased out by 1900.
In the nineteenth century, the term "academy" was used for what later became known as the high school; in most parts of the U.S., there were no public schools above the primary level. Some older high schools—such as Corning Free Academy—retained this term in their names (Corning Free Academy was later reclassified as a middle school and closed in 2014). In 1753, Benjamin Franklin founded the Academy and Charitable School of the Province of Pennsylvania. In 1755, its name was changed to the College, Academy, and Charitable School of Philadelphia. Today, it is known as the University of Pennsylvania. The United States Military Academy was founded in 1802 as a college; it never included a preparatory unit.
A religious revival known as the "Second Great Awakening" inspired Protestant denominations to establish academies and colleges. In 1812, in Amherst—a small town in Massachusetts—funds were raised for a secondary school: Amherst Academy; it opened in December 1814. The Academy was incorporated in 1816, and its students eventually included Emily Dickinson, Sylvester Graham, and Mary Lyon (founder of Mount Holyoke College). By 1821, it had also incorporated higher education through Amherst College. Beyond religion, the academy movement also emerged from the shared belief that education in classical subjects should be extended to the Western states.
Thousands of academies were established using local funds and tuition fees; most closed down within just a few years, only to be replaced by other academies. In 1860, 6,415 academies were in operation. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, they generally suspended their operations for a time; most academies in the South never reopened.
Like Amherst, many colleges began as academies; they later evolved into colleges by adding post-secondary departments, and eventually phased out their pre-collegiate academy components. Many colleges were indirectly influenced by the academy model, including Brown University in Rhode Island and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. In 1753, Benjamin Franklin founded the "Academy and Charitable School of the Province of Pennsylvania." In 1755, its name was changed to the "College and Academy and Charitable School of Philadelphia." This institution later became the University of Pennsylvania.
By 1840, 3,204 academies and similar secondary schools were in operation. Most schools lasted only a few years, yet new schools continued to open in their place; by 1860, 6,415 schools were operating nationwide. The first public secondary schools emerged around the 1830s and 1840s in affluent, socio-economically homogeneous communities, and they underwent significant expansion in the post-1865 era—a trend that continued through the 1890s.
Government High School
In the 19th century, many high schools housed a "normal school," where students were trained to become teachers in common schools. Those enrolled in these programs were primarily young women who intended to teach for a few years before getting married.
When education at this level became free, and when compulsory education laws mandated school attendance for adolescents up to a certain age, there was a tremendous surge in high school enrollment. It was believed that every American student, regardless of their aptitude, should have the opportunity to partake in this educational experience.
In 1892, in response to the various educational philosophies prevalent at the time, the National Education Association established a working group of educators known as the "Committee of Ten." This committee recommended a twelve-year course of study, comprising eight years of elementary education followed by four years of high school education. Rejecting proposals suggesting that high schools should, from the outset, segregate students into separate tracks—one for college preparation versus vocational training, and in some instances, even based on caste or race—they unanimously recommended that "every subject taught in a secondary school should be taught to every student in the same way and to the same extent, as long as he pursues it; no matter what the destination of the student is to be after leaving school, or how short or how long his school life may be."
Levels of education in the United States
Middle School / Junior High School
Middle schools and junior high schools are educational institutions that serve as a link between primary and high school education. "Middle" schools typically educate students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades; however, in some districts, middle schools consist solely of the 7th and 8th grades. "Junior high" schools, on the other hand, typically do not include the sixth grade but often include the ninth grade. Occasionally, middle and junior high schools may also include the fifth grade.
Upon enrolling in middle school or junior high, students begin following a class schedule in which they study with multiple teachers in different classrooms throughout the day. (This marks a significant departure from the primary or elementary school model, where students remain in a single classroom with a single teacher.) These schools typically feature a core group of four or five (if the curriculum includes a foreign language) main academic subjects—English (or "Language Arts"), Science, Mathematics, History (or "Social Studies"), and in some schools, a foreign language—along with two to four additional classes, which may be elective, supplementary, or remedial academic courses.
Some students also begin taking foreign language courses or advanced mathematics and science classes as early as middle school. Schools typically offer instruction in Spanish and French; German is also frequently available, while Latin, Chinese, Japanese, and/or Greek are occasionally offered as well. In addition to pre-algebra and other preparatory courses for high school mathematics, Algebra I and Geometry—both of which are typically high school-level subjects—are often taught. Schools also offer classes in Earth Science, Life Science, or Physical Science. Physical education classes (also referred to as "PE," "phys ed," "kinesiology," or "gym") are typically mandatory for a specific period of time. For Social Studies, some schools offer classes in American History, Geography, and World History.
Many schools also offer "Honors classes" for motivated and gifted students, where the academic level is higher and significantly greater expectations are placed upon enrolled students.
Intermediate school
"Intermediate school" is a term that is rarely used. It may serve as an alternative name for "middle school" (particularly in New York City public schools), or it may refer to schools that cover the final years of primary education—specifically, the years immediately preceding middle school or junior high school—typically spanning from Grade 3 or 4 through Grade 5 or 6. These schools may also be referred to as "upper elementary" schools.
High School / Senior High School in the United States
High schools—or senior high schools—are educational institutions that provide instruction spanning from the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade through the 12th grade. Most American high schools are "comprehensive high schools," which admit all students from their local area—regardless of their academic ability or whether they have chosen a vocational or college-preparatory track. Students exercise a significant degree of control over their education and can even select their own core courses; however, the level of this autonomy varies from state to state and from school to school. These schools are administered by local school districts rather than by the federal government.
Some states and cities operate specialized high schools that require an entrance examination and admit only the highest-performing students; examples of such schools include Boston Latin School, several schools within New York City's "Specialized High Schools" system, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. Other high schools place a special emphasis on the arts. Some schools are designed for students who struggle to succeed within a standard academic framework, while others—such as Harvey Milk High School—were established to serve specific social groups, such as LGBT students.
Most states operate specialized residential schools for students with visual or hearing impairments; however, many such students receive their education within mainstream classrooms at standard schools. Many states also run residential high schools dedicated to exceptionally gifted students in specialized fields such as science, mathematics, or the arts. A very small number of high schools are also operated by the Department of Defense within military bases, providing education to the children of military personnel.
Most high schools offer specialized classes for motivated and gifted students, known as "Honors" classes; The standard of education in these classes is high, and students enrolled in them are held to significantly higher expectations. Some high schools offer curricula such as 'Regular Honors' (H) (sometimes referred to as 'Advanced'), 'Advanced Placement' (AP), or 'International Baccalaureate' (IB); all of these represent specialized forms of 'Honors' classes. There are also international schools available that conduct study programs aligned with foreign educational systems—such as those of Britain and France. Some schools also operate 'dual-enrollment' programs, under which students can enroll in select university courses and earn academic credits toward both their university and high school studies. Upon completing their studies (graduating) from high school or senior high school, students are awarded a 'High School Diploma.' Subsequently, their secondary education is considered complete, and students may proceed to pursue higher-level (tertiary) education.
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