Difference between revisions of "High school" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Education]]
 
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{{Schools}}
 
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A '''high school''' is the name used in some parts of the world, but particularly in [[North America]], [[Scotland]] and [[Australia]], to describe an institution which provides all or part of [[secondary education]]. The precise stage of schooling provided by a high school differs from country to country, and may vary within the same jurisdiction. In parts of Australia and [[Canada]], high school is synonymous with [[secondary school]], and encompasses the entire secondary stage of education. High school can also be the point in life for many students where they mature and develop a deeper sense of understanding about themselves and the people around them. Alternatively, some students will undergo this transitional stage later on in life when they enter college or university, although this is usually a continued progression that originates in high school.  
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A '''high school''' is the name used in some parts of the world, particularly in [[North America]], to describe an institution which provides all or part of [[secondary education]]. The precise stage of schooling provided by a high school differs from country to country, and may vary within the same jurisdiction. Though they may go by different names, most countries around the world have schools that are similar in philosophy to high schools. In most parts of the world it is the last stage of [[compulsory schooling]], and prepares a student to continue on to [[higher education]], such as a [[college]], [[university]], or [[Vocational school|vocational schooling]]. Graduation from high school is considered a significant [[rite of passage]] in many cultures, particularly the [[United States]].
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In the 1950s, most "high schools" in Canada changed their official names to more closely reflect their scope. While "high school" is still the [[colloquial]] term, they became "... Collegiate" or "... Collegiate and Vocational Institute" as well as "... Comprehensive ..." ("... Polyvalente ..." in French.)
 
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==Australia==
 
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{{main|Education in Australia|List of schools in Australia|Queensland State High Schools}}
 
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In [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] the name was officially changed to [[secondary college]] in the early 1990s, however some of the adult population refer to the period as "high school." In the [[Australian Capital Territory]] ]] high school is years 7-10, and students go to senior school for years 11-12.
 
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In some states [[TAFE]] institutes/colleges offer high school equivalent courses, usually undertaken by adult students who left school without completing/undertaking Year 12 leaving certificate requirements. There are also private commercial education facilities offering Year 12 leaving certificate courses, often to students wishing to improve on their high school results in order to obtain entry to, or better placement opportunities at, university.
 
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The exact length of secondary schooling varies from state to state, with high schools in [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] serving years 7-12, and [[Western Australia]], [[Queensland]], [[Northern Territory]] and [[South Australia]] serving years 8-12. In 2007 Northern Territory is introducing a Middle School system for years 7-9 and high school will be years 10-12. In 2010 Western Australia will implement year 7 into the high school, reflecting that of New South Wales and Victoria.
 
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The age until which it is compulsory to attend school varies by state:
 
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* 15 in [[New South Wales]], the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]], and [[Northern Territory]]
 
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* 16 in [[South Australia]] (17 in 2009) and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]
 
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* 17 in [[Tasmania]], [[Queensland]], and [[Western Australia]]
 
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In some states students can leave school at a younger age usually 14 if they are involved in other full-time activities such as work, apprenticeship or TAFE.
 
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The matter of compulsory attendance has been complicated by various initiatives at Commonwealth and State level to ensure that young people are in school, training or employment. There are calls to replace compulsory attendance age with compulsory achievement requirements, meaning that students must complete their final year level rather than being able to leave at reaching "leaving age." There are also calls to make attendance to the end of year 12 mandatory.
 
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==Brazil==
 
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{{main|Education in Brazil}}
 
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In Brazil, high school is officially called ''Ensino Médio'' and is also informally known as ''Colegial'' or ''Segundo Grau''. It is the last phase to the basic education in this country. Brazilian high school lasts 3 years, attempting to deepen what students learn in elementary school and junior high. A Brazilian high school student is referenced by their year - 1st, 2nd and 3rd years.
 
  
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Unlike some countries, Brazilian students don't have a final test to conclude studies. Your approval depends only on your final grade on each subject. Each university elaborates its own test to select new students - this test is called the "vestibular," and happens once a year, mainly. [[Enem (exam)|Enem]], a non-mandatory national exam, evaluates high school students in Brazil and is used to rank schools, both private and public.  
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In addition to completing this level of academic studies, high schools offer [[adolescence|adolescents]] support in making the transition from [[childhood]] to adulthood in social, career, and other interests through extra-curricular activities as well as purely academic studies. High schools face serious challenges in fulfilling these goals, both academically and socially. In many cases the social environment of high schools is far from ideal, with the result that many students fail to achieve their potential and leave without graduating. Nevertheless, the establishment of high schools and the availability of this level of education to all students is beneficial to society.
  
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Education is a strong issue in Brazil and one shall distinguish among public and private high schools. The best scores in vestibular and in Enem <ref> http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Vestibular/0,,MUL385831-5604,00-VEJA+AS+MELHORES+ESCOLAS+DO+PAIS+NO+ENEM.html </ref> and the best universities are also concentrated on the South-east zone of the country, that covers from [[São Paulo]], [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Minas Gerais]] and [[Espírito Santo]]. The lack of funds and historical and social problems contribute majorly to a poor frequency from the students, especially those in public schools. Some ones, nevertheless, are national models, such as the Colégio Pedro II, created on the 19th century for this inphant emperor.
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==Purpose==
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'''High schools''' and similar institutions provide the final stages of [[secondary education]]. In some countries, they provide the last stages of [[compulsory education]] while in others they are advancements for students who plan to attend [[tertiary education]]. Either way, these schools have two significant purposes. First, they are designed to meet the educational expectations set by the state or government, which usually includes a fundamental understanding of [[mathematics]], basic [[science]]s, [[language]] skills, [[geography]], [[government]], and [[history]]. Secondly, these institutions are charged with preparing students for life after high school, which means either providing technical/vocational skills so that students can enter the workforce, or preparing students for advanced study in college. Additionally, high schools offer [[adolescence|adolescents]] support in making the transition from [[childhood]] to adulthood in social, career, and other interests through extra-curricular activities as well as purely academic studies. Graduation from high school is considered a significant [[rite of passage]] in many cultures, particularly the U.S.  
  
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Private establishments, on the other hand, may be recognized as excellent or just a good investment. Schedule varies from school to school. The subjects, however, are conceived by the ''Ministério da Educação'' (Ministry of Education) and are particularly accurate on the scientific area (such as Chemistry).
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==History==
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[[Image:Columbia County High School Lake City01.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|Columbia County High School, in Lake City, Florida]]
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Before public high schools were first developed in the United States, [[secondary education]] in [[Europe]] and the West was limited to private tutors and institutions whose main goal was to prepare its students for entrance into a [[university]]. The public high school movement, which started in the [[Massachusetts]], was established as a way to satisfactorily educate and prepare for college a larger number of students. By the late nineteenth century the U.S. was the first country to have free, public high schools.<ref name=holsinger>Donald B. Holsinger, [http://www.answers.com/topic/history-of-secondary-education History of Secondary Education,] ''Encyclopedia of Education.'' Retrieved August 24, 2008.</ref>
  
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Educational year starts on February and ends on December - but institutions are allowed to define the dates by their own. They must grant 200 days of classes, though.
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By the beginning of the twentieth century, high schools started to be developed in all parts of the country, as a larger middle class was developing and the benefits of educating younger people before they entered the workforce became realized, particularly in urban areas.<ref name=holsinger/> The large [[farming]] communities and rural populations in the United States during the beginning half of the twentieth century were the last to establish public high schools, as males of high school age were already employed in [[manual labor]]. High schools for girls and minorities were slow coming as well, but by the middle of the twentieth century high schools were the norm in every state.
  
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Universites are also divided in public and private. In this level, however, public ones are considered as excellent and their vestibular exam is very competitive (the exam for med school in [[UNICAMP]] may hit 300 candidates per place). For a better preparation, therefore, parents pay also a ''curso pré-vestibular'' (external classes that prepares the exams). Larger private institutions offer, today, high school and ''curso pré-vestibular''.
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==Organization and governance==
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Individual states, counties, and school districts have considerable leeway in how they choose to divide their school levels. A few American schools still include all grades seven through twelve, but usually grades nine through twelve constitute high school, with [[middle school]] offering grades six, seven, and eight. Students in American high schools are known according to their grade as "Freshmen" (ninth grade), "Sophomores" (tenth grade), "Juniors" (eleventh grade), and "Seniors" (twelfth grade).
  
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==Canada==
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Students generally graduate from high school in the year of their eighteenth birthday if they were born between January 1 and August 31, but this varies by state depending on the [[kindergarten]] cut-off date, which ranges from August 1 to January 1.<ref>Kristie Kauerz, [http://journal.naeyc.org/btj/200503/01Kauerz.asp State Kindergarten Policies: Straddling Early Learning and Early Elementary School,] ''Journal for the National Association of the Education of Children'' (2005). Retrieved August 14, 2008</ref> As a practical matter, while laws in most states mandate school attendance at least until graduation or age 16, many require attendance until age 17 or 18.<ref>Information Please® Database, [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0112617.html State Compulsory School Attendance Laws] Pearson Education, Inc., 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2008.</ref> Enforcement of [[truancy]] laws is sometimes sporadic. Conversely, students who have failed a grade may remain in high school past the age of 18. In general, students over 19 attend alternative classes to receive a high school diploma or [[General Educational Development]] (GED) certificate. State laws vary on the cut-off age for students to receive free public education services. A high school diploma or GED certificate is usually required for entrance into a two or four-year [[college]] or [[university]] and to other post-secondary education programs.
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{{main|Education in Canada}}
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In 1998, the average American graduation rate from high school was 71 percent.<ref>Jay P. Greene, [http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_baeo.htm High School Graduation Rates in the United States,] Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (2001). Retrieved August 14, 2008.</ref>
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Secondary schooling in [[Canada]] differs depending on the province in which one resides. In [[Ontario]], high school is usually from grades 9 to 12, but can be from 7 to 12 depending on the school's location (urban/rural). In most urban areas in Ontario, schools with grades 7 and 8 are referred to as Middle School or Senior Public. When grades 7 - 9 are together, it is referred to as Junior High School. In [[Alberta]] high school starts in grade 10 and finshes in grade 12. However in [[Quebec]], high school is from Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 ([[grade]]s 7 to 11[http://www.meq.gouv.qc.ca/daic/pdf/educqceng.pdf]). In Quebec most students follow high school by attending a [[CEGEP|CÉGEP]], which is comparable to a two-year junior college and is obligatory for Quebec students wishing to go on to university. Vocational CÉGEP is three years.  
 
  
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Education is compulsory up to the age of 16 in every province in Canada, except for Ontario and New Brunswick (where the compulsory age is 18). Students may continue to attend high school until the ages of 19 to 21 (the cut-off age for high school varies between province). Those 19 and over may attend adult school. Also if high schoolers are expelled or suspended for a period of time over 2 months or so they could attend night school at the high school.
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High schools can be sub-classed as general high schools, [[vocational high school]]s (VoTech schools), and [[Preparatory school|college preparatory high schools]] (prep schools) and [[alternative high school]]s. Most high schools are general high schools. These schools offer a wide range of educational opportunities intended for the widest range of students possible. These general population schools offer college preparatory classes for advanced students, general education classes for average students, and remedial courses for those who need additional academic support. Students can "mix and match" course levels according to their own abilities or interests.
  
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Originally schools were divided by religion, although most provinces have since abolished these. Provinces such as [[Ontario]], Alberta, and certain cities in [[Saskatchewan]] are exceptions, publicly funded by a separate school board.  
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In some school districts exceptionally high-performing students are offered enrollment at a district college preparatory high school. Traditionally "prep schools" in North America were usually private institutions, though most medium or large public (state) school districts now offer prep schools for advanced students. Public prep schools draw the top students from their district and have strict entrance requirements. All academic classes offered in these schools are classified as [[honors]], [[International Baccalaureate]], or [[Advanced Placement]].
  
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Quebec replaced their religious based system with an English and French school board system in 1998. Students in Quebec can only attend a publicly funded English-language school (through high school) if at least one of their parents attended an English-language school somewhere in Canada. Otherwise, their only publicly funded option would be a French-language school. This requirement was implemented to encourage the children of immigrants living in Quebec to attend French-language schools. Of course, anyone is free to choose to pay to attend a private school in the language he or she chooses.  
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===Variations===
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[[Image:Pernik-textile-vocational-school.jpg|thumb|left|200 px|Textile Vocational school in Pernik, Bulgaria]]
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[[Vocational school|Vocational high schools]] offer hands-on training to students to prepare them for careers in fields such as [[information technology]], [[marketing]], [[business]], [[engineering]], and the [[medicine|medical]] professions. While some graduates of vocational or career and technical education high schools go directly into a trade, others pursue postsecondary education. Vocational high schools are sometimes but not always associated with low-performing students (not necessarily [[special education]] students) or those at risk of dropping out of traditional schools, in order to offer these students the chance to earn their diploma and have marketable skills after graduation. The [[Association for Career and Technical Education]] is the largest national association of professionals dedicated to career and technical education.<ref>The Association for Career and Technical Education, [http://www.acteonline.org/about/ About ACTE.] Retrieved August 14, 2008</ref>
  
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There are a variety of private schools across Canada.  
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[[Alternative high school]]s are institutions designed for students who have major disciplinary or [[mental health]] difficulties that make it problematic to educate them in traditional high school settings.<ref>Robert A. Gable et al., "Changing Perspectives on Alternative Schooling for Children and Adolescents With Challenging Behavior," ''Preventing School Failure'' 51(1) (Fall 2006): 5.</ref> Some alternative high schools are assigned as [[security]] risks, where the school houses students who are not yet old enough to legally leave school and are considered a danger to other students or teachers, but have not been convicted of a [[crime]]. Some alternative high schools are dedicated to students with drug or mental health difficulties and have medical and psychological staff on site. A few of these schools include a nursery and a child care staff so that teen parents can finish their education without having to find child care during the school day. Alternative high schools may have their own campus, but others are located in a section or wing of a general high school.
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The first school was opened by Carl Hunso, an American biologist in 1780
 
  
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==Finland==
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Another form of high school that has emerged is the online high school. [[Stanford University]]'s own [[Education Program for Gifted Youth]] received a generous donation and used it to create the first truly complete online high school, with an interactive and advanced program for advanced learners.<ref>Stanford University, [http://epgy.stanford.edu/ohs/EPGY_OHS_Overview.pdf Online High School.] Retrieved August 25, 2008.</ref>
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{{main|Education in Finland}}
 
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<!-- Copy-Paste from [[Education in Finland]] article —>
 
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The Finnish education system is a comparatively [[Egalitarianism|egalitarian]] Nordic system. This means for example no [[tuition]] fees for full-time students and free meals are served to pupils. There are private schools but they are made unattractive by legislation.  
 
  
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The second level education is not compulsory, but an overwhelming majority attends. There is a choice between [[upper secondary school]] (''lukio'', ''[[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]]'') and [[vocational school]] (''ammatillinen oppilaitos'', ''yrkesinstitut'').  
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==Facilities==
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[[Image:Pope John Paul II High School Football Field 11-16-2007-04.jpg|thumb|300px|right|High school football field]]
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Most high schools are generally the largest of [[compulsory school]] buildings, and have facilities similar to but larger than those at [[middle school]]s. Classrooms tend to be larger, and specialty rooms, such as [[science]] [[laboratory|laboratories]], [[art]] rooms, [[computer]] laboratories, [[technology]], and industrial work spaces, often have better and more complex equipment as these subjects tend to become more intensive when studied at the high school level. Nearly all states require high schools to have cafeterias which provide food (for a cost) to its students, as well [[health]] offices. [[Gymnasium]]s for [[physical education]] and outdoor athletic spaces are common. Auditoriums which can double for theatric and concert performances as well as school meetings are also commonly included.
  
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Upper secondary school, unlike vocational school, concludes with a nationally graded [[matriculation examination]] (''ylioppilastutkinto'', ''studentexamen''). Passing the test is a ''de facto'' prerequisite for further education. The system is designed so that approximately the lowest scoring 5% fails in each exam and also 5% get the best grade. The exam allows for a limited degree of specialization in either natural sciences or social sciences. The graduation is an important and formal family event, like [[christening]], [[wedding]], and [[funeral]].
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==Cultural Variations==
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The following is a sampling of some of the different types of high schools around the world, grouped by continent:
  
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In the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]]'s international assessment of student performance, [[Programme for International Student Assessment|PISA]], Finland has consistently been among the highest scorers worldwide; in 2003, Finnish 15-year-olds came first in reading [[literacy]], [[science]], and [[mathematics]]; and second in [[problem solving]], worldwide. The [[World Economic Forum]] ranks Finland's tertiary education #1 in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/fp/gcr_2006-07_highlights/index.htm |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2006–2007: Country Highlights |work=[[World Economic Forum]] |accessdate=2007-01-22}}</ref>
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===Africa===
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In [[South Africa]], high school begins at eighth grade. Students study for five years, at the end of which they write what is known as "matric." Students must attain a pass in their Home Language, Additional Language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and Life Orientation to progress on to university.<ref>Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/zatoc.html A Country Study: South Africa] (2005). Retrieved August 14, 2008.</ref>
  
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==India==
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Students in [[Kenya]]'s major secondary schools (high schools) take four years to prepare for college. [[Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education]] are undertaken at the end of secondary education. As of 2008, the government has introduced plans to offer free secondary education to all. There are three types of secondary school: Private schools, government-aided schools, and harambee schools. The government-aided schools are more selective and only one out of four children are accepted. Acceptance is based on a child’s score on the Kenya Certification of Primary Education (KCPE). Most of the government-aided schools are [[boarding school]]s.  
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{{main|Education in India}}
 
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In [[India]], high school is a grade of education which includes Standards [[IX]] to [[XII]]. Standards [[XI]] and XII are also called [[Senior Secondary School]] or [[Junior College]]. Some states refer to Standards IX and [[X]] as High School, while XI and XII are termed as Intermediate. Other states refer to [[VI]], [[VII]], [[VIII]], IX and X  (grades 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) as [[Secondary School]] and XI and XII (grades 11 and 12) as Senior Secondary School. Usually, students from ages 14 to 18 study in this section. These schools may be affiliated to national boards like [[CBSE]] or [[ICSE|ISC]] or various state boards. Education is compulsory until age 14. The education system in India is considered to be one of the hardest in the world.
 
  
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==Ireland==
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In [[Nigeria]], students spend six years in secondary school. At the end of three years, they take the Junior Secondary School exam (JSS3 exam) which is a qualifying exam for senior secondary school. By Senior Secondary School Class 2 (SS2), students are taking the GCE O Levels exam, which is not mandatory, but most students take it to prepare for the Senior Secondary School Exam. The Senior Secondary School Exam is taken in the last year of high school (SS3). Private organizations, the state or federal government manages secondary schools in Nigeria.
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{{main|Education in Ireland}}
 
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In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], students attend [[secondary school]] from first year through sixth (usually aged 12 to 18), with an optional 4th year known as [[Transition Year]]. Once a student turns 16, they have the option to legally leave school. Secondary school is divided into three parts; the ''Junior Cycle'', encompassing first year through third, at the end of which students sit the [[Junior Certificate]]; Transition Year, an optional fourth year; and the ''Senior Cycle'', from fifth year through sixth, at the end of which students sit the [[Leaving Certificate]].
 
  
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==Israel==
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===Asia===
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{{main|Education in Israel}}
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In [[India]], where education is compulsory until age 14, high school is a grade of education which includes Standards IX to XII. Usually, students from ages 14 to 18 study in this section. These schools may be affiliated to national boards like [[CBSE]] or [[ICSE|ISC]] or various state boards.<ref>''Encyclopedia Beta,'' Education in India.</ref>
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In [[Israel]], high school or ''Tichon'' (intermediary school, in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]) is a three-year school period, from the 10th to the 12th grade. Only the first year of high school is compulsory, yet most pupils in Israel attend high school. High school prepares the pupil to the [[Bagrut]] examination, which is obligatory in order to continue to higher education institution and in order to be accepted for most jobs.
 
  
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==Japan==
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[[Image:Japanese school uniform dsc06051.jpg|thumb|left|[[Japan]]ese high school students wearing the ''seifuku'']]
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[[Image:Japanese school uniform dsc06051.jpg|thumb|[[Japan]]ese [[Secondary education in Japan|high school students]] wearing the [[Japanese school uniform|seifuku]]]]
 
 
{{main|Secondary education in Japan}}
 
{{main|Secondary education in Japan}}
  
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The Japanese word for a high school is ''kōtōgakkō'' ({{lang|ja|高等学校}}; literally ''high school''), or ''kōkō'' ({{lang|ja|高校}}) in short. High school in Japan covers grades 10 through 12, and it is not mandatory. Most Japanese people attend high school. The third year of high school in Japan is allotted for students to prepare for college exams known as "juken" （受験）. Others may wish to settle for a job instead. High schools in Japan are referred to by [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)|MEXT]] as "upper secondary schools." However most English-language newspapers and sources use the term "high school." Many school boards also use "high school"; for instance the [[Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education]] uses "senior high school."
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The Japanese word for a high school is ''kōtōgakkō'' ({{lang|ja|高等学校}}; literally ''high school''), or ''kōkō'' ({{lang|ja|高校}}) in short. High school in Japan covers grades 10 through 12, and is not mandatory. Most Japanese people attend high school.<ref>Thomas P. Rohlen, ''Japan's High Schools'' (University of California Press, 1983, ISBN 0520048636).</ref> The third year of high school in Japan is allotted for students to prepare for college exams known as ''juken'' （受験）. Others may wish to settle for a job instead. High schools in Japan are referred to by [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)|MEXT]] as "upper secondary schools."<ref> Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, [http://www.mext.go.jp/english/shotou/index.htm Elementary and Secondary School.] Retrieved August 14, 2008.</ref>
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==Macedonia==
 
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{{main|Education in Macedonia}}
 
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High school in Macedonia is called "средно училиште" or "middle school," and the structure is left from the socialists period. Reforms are conducting at the moment, so the education would be appropriate with the most of the leading world countries.That means that there are still many forms. In general there is high school for preparing for every faculty on the university. There are: electro technical high school, mechanical high school, economics high school, pharmaceutical, medical,...and natural sciences and linguistics gymnasium. The high school is attended between the years of 14 and 18.
 
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==The Netherlands==
 
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{{Main|Education in the Netherlands}}
 
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In The Netherlands, high school is called "middelbare school" (literally: "middle school)" and starts right after the 8th grade of primary school (group 8). The pupils who attend high school are around the age of 12. And because the education in the Netherlands is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16 (and partial compulsory between the ages of 16 and 18), all pupils must attend high school.  
 
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The high schools are part of the "voortgezet onderwijs" (literally: "continued education"). The "voortgezet onderwijs" consist of 3 main streams; [[vmbo]] (has 4 grades), [[havo]] (has 5 grades) and [[vwo]] (has 6 grades). The pupils usually can't choose the type of secondary education they want to follow, it depends on the opinion of the group 8 teacher.
 
  
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==Portugal==
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In [[South Korea]], students from grades 10 through 12 attend high schools. High schools in South Korea may also have subject specialty tracks. For example, students who have a talent for science, foreign language, physical activity, art, and so forth may choose to go to a science, foreign language, or other specialty high school ([[hangul]]:특수목적고등학교; [[Revised Romanization of Korean|Revised]]:''Teuksu-mokjeok godeung hakgyo'').<ref>Andrea Matles Savada and William Shaw, (eds.), [http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/ South Korea: A Country Study] (Washington, DC: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1990). Retrieved August 14, 2008.</ref> Korean students may also choose to go to common high school (hangul:인문계 고등학교; Revised Romanization:''Inmun-Gyae godeung hakgyo''), while other students may choose a vocational track high school which emphasizes [[agriculture]], commerce, or technical trade curricula (hangul:전문계 고등학교; Revised Romanization: ''Jeonmun Gyae godeung hakgyo'').
  
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{{main|Education in Portugal}}
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===Europe===
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In Portuguese, the word for high school is ''liceu'' or now commonly called ''Escola Secundária'' ([[secondary school]] which also includes 7 to 9 grade) and covers grades 10 through 12 (ages 14 or 15 to 17 or 18). After this period, students will ingress into an ''Universidade'' ([[University]]) or ''Politécnico'' ([[Polytechnic]]).  
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The [[Finland|Finnish]] education system charges no [[tuition]] fees for full-time students and free meals are served to pupils. The second level education is not compulsory, but an overwhelming majority attends. There is a choice between [[upper secondary school]] (''lukio'', ''[[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]]'') and [[vocational school]] (''ammatillinen oppilaitos,'' ''yrkesinstitut''). Upper secondary school, unlike vocational school, concludes with a nationally graded [[matriculation examination]] (''ylioppilastutkinto,'' ''studentexamen''). Passing the test is a prerequisite for further education. The system is designed so that approximately the lowest scoring five percent fail in each exam and also five percent achieve the highest grade. The exam allows for a limited degree of specialization in either natural sciences or social sciences. Graduation from high school is an important formal family event, like a [[christening]], [[wedding]], or [[funeral]].
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Students may choose to pursue an artistic career instead of continuing their studies.
 
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Nowadays, the Portuguese government is pondering about extending compulsory education to grade 12 or 18 years of age, instead of grade 9.
 
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In the Portuguese high schools, one cannot pass onto the next year until he or she got the correct grades to pass, to fail in Portuguese is ''(chumbar)'' or ''(passar)'' to pass.
 
  
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==Republic of Korea (South Korea)==
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The Finnish system resembles the [[Germany|German]] ''[[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]]''. Usually the students that attend a ''gymnasium'' school in Germany are the most academically strong students upon leaving [[primary school]]. The ''gymnasium'' helps to prepare students to enter a [[university]], and is the most rigorous and prestigious level of secondary education in Germany. ''Gymnasia'' are thus meant for the more academically-minded students, who are sifted out at about the age of 10 to 13, a system similar to the [[eleven plus exam]] formerly used to select [[grammar school]] entrants in the [[United Kingdom]]. Those students who are not qualified to enter ''gymnasia'' attend one of the three other types of German secondary schools: ''Realschule'', ''Hauptschule'', or ''Gesamtschule''.<ref>Encarta® Online Encyclopedia, [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761559046/Gymnasium_(school).html Gymnasium (school)] (Microsoft Corporation, 2008). Retrieved August 25, 2008.</ref>
  
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In [[South Korea]], students from grades 10 through 12 attend high schools. A student may choose, however, the class he or she wishes to take for liberal arts. High schools in South Korea may also have subject specialty tracks. For example, students who have a talent for science, foreign language, physical activity, art, etc.. may choose to go to an academic science or foreign language and other specialty high school ([[hangul]]:특수목적고등학교;[[Revised Romanization of Korean|Revised]]:''Teuksu-mokjeok godeung hakgyo'') [[Image:gbshs.jpg|thumb|Gyeonggibuk Science High School, a specialty high school of Korea]]
+
In the [[Netherlands]], high school is called "middelbare school" (literally: "Middle school)" and starts right after the eighth grade of primary school (group eight). The pupils who attend high school are around the age of 12. Because the education in the Netherlands is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16 (and partially compulsory between the ages of 16 and 18), all pupils must attend high school. The high schools are part of the ''voortgezet onderwijs'' (literally: "Continued education"). The ''voortgezet onderwijs'' consist of three main streams; ''[[vmbo]]'' (four grades), ''[[havo]]'' (five grades) and ''[[vwo]]'' (six grades). The pupils usually cannot choose the type of secondary education they want to follow, as it depends on the opinion of the group eight teacher.
−
Most Korean students may choose to go to common high school ([[hangul]]:인문계 고등학교; [[Revised Romanization of Korean|Revised]]:''Inmun-Gyae godeung hakgyo'') ; and other students may choose a vocational track high school which emphasizes agriculture, commerce, or technical trade curricula (hangul:전문계 고등학교; Revised:'''Jeonmun Gyae godeung hakgyo'')
+
[[Image:Wetherbyhighschool.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Wetherby High School, a former [[secondary modern]] school in [[Wetherby]], [[West Yorkshire]] that adopted the term "High School."]]
  
−
High schools are called 고등학교 ([[Revised Romanization of Korean|Revised]]: ''godeung hakgyo''; [[McCune-Reischauer]]: ''kodŭng hakkyo'').
+
In [[France]], high schools are called ''[[Lycée]]''. The ''lycée'' prepares the student to pass the ''baccalauréat'' (known as ''le bac''); this allows the student to continue to higher education, studies in technology, or directly enter their profession, depending on the type of ''baccalauréat''. Public French universities are required to accept any student who attains the ''baccalauréat général''. However, there are also ''Grandes écoles,'' elite higher education establishments which function outside of the public university system, that traditionally have produced France's highest ranking politicians, executives, and scientists. Entrance to these institutions requires ''classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles,'' two to three-year courses, often offered by historical, prestigious, and selective ''lycées''.<ref>H. D. Lewis, ''The French Education System'' (London: Croom Helm, 1985, ISBN 0709916833).</ref>
 +
[[Image:Medina High School.JPG|thumb|left|200px|[[Medina High School, Newport|Medina High School]], one of the five state-maintained high schools on the [[Isle of Wight]].]]
 +
In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], students attend [[secondary school]] from first year through sixth (usually aged 12 to 18), with an optional fourth year known as "transition year." Once a student turns 16, they have the option to leave school legally. Secondary school is divided into three parts; the "junior cycle," encompassing first year through third, at the end of which students sit the [[Junior Certificate]]; "transition year," an optional fourth year; and the "senior cycle," from fifth year through sixth, at the end of which students sit the [[Leaving Certificate]].
  
−
==Taiwan==
+
The term "high school" is not used officially in the [[United Kingdom]], although many secondary schools call themselves high schools, particularly in [[Scotland]], the north of [[England]], and in some parts of [[Wales]]. Secondary schools in the state sector in the UK generally cater for children between the ages of 11 and 16 or 18, in two stages (Key Stage 3 and 4). Compulsory education ends in Key Stage 3, but students may elect to go on for two more years in programs offered by Sixth Form departments. In the private sector pupils often transfer to the final stage of education at age 13.
−
{{main|Education in Taiwan}}
 
  
−
The secondary education in Taiwan includes junior high school, senior high school, vocational high school, military school and complete high school. The traditional secondary education institutions were established during the [[Japanese colonial era]] (1895-1945)." Today, they include many features from the United States.
+
===North America===
 +
[[Image:Nutana Collegiate.jpg|thumb|right|200px|High School in [[Saskatchewan]], [[Canada]].]]
 +
Secondary schooling in [[Canada]] differs depending on the province. In [[Ontario]], high school is usually from grades 9 to 12, but can be from 7 to 12 depending on the school's location (urban/rural). In most urban areas in Ontario, schools with grades 7 and 8 are referred to as "middle school" or "senior public." When grades 7 to 9 are together, it is referred to as "junior high school." In [[Alberta]] high school starts in grade 10 and finishes in grade 12. However in [[Quebec]], high school is from Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 ([[grade]]s 7 to 11). In Quebec most students follow high school by attending a [[CEGEP|CÉGEP]], which is comparable to a two-year junior college and is obligatory for Quebec students wishing to go on to university. Vocational CÉGEP is three years. Education is compulsory up to the age of 16 in every province in Canada, except for Ontario and New Brunswick (where the compulsory age is 18).  
  
−
After six years in elementary school, the rules typically state that children must enter junior high school, or their parents may be fined. There are three grades in junior high. Children who achieve the third grade can choose to enter senior high school, vocational high school or complete high school. If children want to continue their formal education, they must sit for an exam. Generally speaking, the grade to enter high school and complete high school is highest, while it is lower to go on to vocational high school and military school.
+
Originally schools were divided by [[religion]], although most provinces have since abolished this separation. Provinces such as Ontario, [[Alberta]], and certain cities in [[Saskatchewan]] are exceptions, publicly funded by a separate school board. Quebec replaced their religious based system with an English and French school board system in 1998. Students in Quebec can only attend a publicly funded English-language school (through high school) if at least one of their parents attended an English-language school somewhere in Canada. Otherwise, their only publicly funded option would be a French-language school. This requirement was implemented to encourage the children of immigrants living in Quebec to attend French-language schools. Of course, anyone is free to choose to pay to attend a private school in the language he or she chooses.
  
−
Senior high school has three grades. Graduates from senior high school often continue on to university. Vocational high school has three grades as well. Children who complete vocational high school can then enter a technological university. Complete high school is like that of American high schools, in that it has grades seven to grade twelve.
+
In [[Mexico]], the equivalent of high schools are called upper-secondary schools. Unlike the rest of basic education in the country, this stage is non-compulsory and has three pathways: general upper-secondary, technical professional education, and technological upper-secondary, which helps determine if a student will go on to college or join the workforce upon completion.
  
−
There are also international schools such as [[Taipei American School]] (TAS) and [[Taipei European School]] (TES). These schools offer grades from [[Kindergarten]] to grade 12. English is instructed for all courses. Since the curriculum concurs with the corresponding country's curriculum, graduates from these international schools generally do not stay in Taiwan for their undergraduate degree.
+
===Oceania===
 +
[[Image:Croydon high school.jpg|thumb|left|200 px|Croydon High School, West Croydon, Adelaide, South Australia]]
 +
In [[Australia]] the terms "high school" and "secondary college" may be used interchangeably. In the [[Australian Capital Territory]] high school is years seven to ten, and students go to senior school for years 11 and 12. In some states [[TAFE]] institutes/colleges offer high school equivalent courses, usually undertaken by adult students who left school without completing Year 12 leaving certificate requirements. There are also private commercial education facilities offering Year 12 leaving certificate courses, often to students wishing to improve on their high school results in order to obtain entry to, or better placement opportunities at, university. The exact length of secondary schooling varies from state to state, with high schools in [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] serving years 7 to 12, and [[Western Australia]], [[Queensland]], and [[South Australia]] serving years 8 to 12. The Northern Territory has introduced a [[middle school]] system for years seven to nine, with high school consisting of years 10 to 12.
  
−
==South Africa==
+
===South America===
−
{{main|Education in South Africa}}
+
In [[Brazil]], high school is officially called ''Ensino Médio'' and is also informally known as ''Colegial'' or ''Segundo Grau''. It is the last phase to the basic education in this country. Brazilian high school lasts three years, attempting to deepen what students learn in [[elementary school]] and [[junior high school]]. A Brazilian high school student is referenced by their year: first, second, and third years.<ref>United Nations, [http://www.un.int/brazil/brasil/brazil-education.htm Brazil-Education.] Retrieved August 15, 2008.</ref> Unlike many other countries, Brazilian students have no final test to conclude their studies. Their completion depends only on the final grade on each subject. Each [[university]] develops its own test to select new students. [[Enem (exam)|Enem]], a non-mandatory national exam, evaluates high school students in Brazil and is used to rank schools, both private and public.  
−
In South Africa, high school begins at 8th Grade. Students study for five years, at the end of which they write what is known as "'''matric'''" The system used to be based on Higher or Standard grade. As of 2008; students must attain a pass in their Home Language, Additional Language,Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy and Life Orientation to progress on to university.
 
−
Officially the Senior Certificate to be changed to the National Senior Certificate in 2008 and the system of higher and standard grade has been dropped.  
 
−
An alternative examination is possible in the [[Independent Examinations Board]] (IEB) exams. They are set up by a board, representing many private schools.
 
  
−
==Sweden and Denmark==
+
[[Image:LicAplic1.JPG|thumb|200px|left|High school in Chile]]
−
In Sweden and Denmark it´s mandatory to be in school until 9th year of school education even though a majority of  pupils between ages 15 to 19 usually go through the "[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]]," which can either be [[University-preparatory]] or give practical skills in a profession per se. Starting age for school education is now set at 6 years old.
+
Secondary education in [[Argentina]] is called ''Polimodal'' ("polymodal," that is, having multiple modes), since it allows the student to choose his/her orientation. Polimodal is not yet obligatory but its completion is a requirement to enter colleges across the nation. Polimodal is usually 3 years of schooling, although some schools have a fourth year.
  
−
==United Kingdom==
+
In [[Chile]] secondary school, ''(Enseñanza media)'', is for teenagers from 13 to 18 years old, and is divided into four grades. It is also divided into two different pathways: Scientific-humanities approach in which students can choose a major in either science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology), or humanities (literature, history, sociology), and technical-professional education where students receive extra education in the so-called "technical" areas, such as [[electricity]], [[mechanics]], [[metal]]work, and the like.<ref>Santiago.cl, [http://www.santiago.cl/living/education.htm Education.] Retrieved August 15, 2008.</ref> This second type of education is more typical of public schools ''(Liceos)'', to give students from poorer areas a chance to work right away after completion of high school, as a way to fund a possible higher education career later.
−
{{main|Education in the United Kingdom}}
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:Wetherbyhighschool.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wetherby High School]], a former [[secondary modern]] school in [[Wetherby]], [[West Yorkshire]] to adopt the term 'High School'.]]
 
−
The term "high school" is not used generically in the UK, although many [[secondary schools]] call themselves high schools, particularly in [[Scotland]], the north of [[England]] and in some parts of [[Wales]]. Secondary schools in the state sector in the UK generally cater for children between the ages of 11 and 16 or 18.<ref>[http://www.ldoceonline.com/index.html Dictionary definition of secondary school from the Longman Online Dictionary]</ref> In the private sector pupils often transfer to the final stage of education at age 13. The term high school is used specifically in some counties as follows:
 
−
* In [[Leicestershire]], the label "high school" applies to a small group of [[middle school]]s, which accept pupils between the ages of 10 and 14, before moving on to their final stage of secondary education.
 
−
* In [[Liverpool]] and its surrounding area secondary schools are named high schools (eg [[Broadgreen High School]])
 
−
* Most secondary schools in [[Manchester]] are named high schools (see list of [[List of schools in Manchester|secondary schools in Manchester]])
 
−
* In [[Herefordshire]], many state secondary schools name themselves high schools (eg [[Wigmore, Herefordshire#Schools|Wigmore High School]]).
 
−
* In [[Kent]] and other English counties which still retain their [[grammar schools]], their non-selective [[comprehensive school]]s are often called high schools.
 
−
* [[The Isle of Wight]] retains a [[three-tier education|three-tier]] schooling system. Its five state-run 'High Schools' are so named to differentiate them from secondary schools, which have a different age range.
 
−
 
 
−
==United States==<!-- This section is linked from [[DuPont Manual Magnet High School]] —>
 
−
{{main|Secondary education in the United States}}
 
−
In the United States a high school is an upper [[secondary school]] which educates children from grade [[Ninth grade|nine]] through grade [[Twelfth grade|twelve]]<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/high%2520school.html MSN Encarta Dictionary definition of high school]</ref>, in other words, from the age of about 14 to about 18. Prior to attending high school, many children in the United States attend a [[Middle School|middle school]], a junior high school or an intermediate school (usually grades 5-8, 6-8, 7-8, 7-9 or 8-9).<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861692773/junior_high.html Definition of junior high school] accessed August 17, 2007</ref><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=intermediate%20school Definition of intermediate school] accessed August 17, 2007</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Individual states, counties, and school districts have considerable leeway in how they choose to divide their school levels. Students will generally graduate from high school in the year of their 18th birthday if they were born between January 1 and August 31, but this varies by state depending on the [[kindergarten]] cut-off date, which ranges from August 1 in [[Missouri]] to January 1 in [[Connecticut]].<ref> [http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/kindergarten_cut-off_dates.htm Kindergarten cut-off dates]</ref> A few American schools still incorporate grades 7 through 12, but it is usually either grades 9-12 or grades 10-12 although some states split grades 9-10 and 11-12 into a high school and senior high school. For purposes of the Grade Point Average (GPA) and subject requirements used for college admission, grade 9 is usually considered the first year of high school regardless of whether the student is in the last year of a 7-9 junior high program, or the first year of a 9-12 high school program. While high school is generally defined as being grades 9-12, there are some [[senior high schools]] that cover only grades 10-12, and typically accept students from a [[junior high school]] that includes grades 7-9. Some states consider grades 7-12 to be [[secondary education]], while others consider grades 6-12 to be secondary education.
 
−
 
 
−
As a practical matter, while laws in most states mandate school attendance at least until graduation or age 16, many require attendance until age 17 or 18. (Enforcement of [[truancy]] laws is sometimes sporadic.) Conversely, students who have failed a grade may remain in high school past the age of 18. In general, students over 19 attend alternative classes to receive a high school diploma or [[GED|General Educational Development (GED)]] certificate. State laws vary on the cut-off age for students to receive free public education services. Many states have adult high schools for people generally 19 and over. Students can stay in high school past the age of 18 if it is deemed appropriate. They cannot stay past a certain age depending on the state.
 
−
On average 71% of American students graduate from high school.<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/pubs/OR/ConsumerGuides/dropout.html Government Education Dept. article on High school dropout rates]</ref><ref>[http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_baeo.htm Manhattan Institute article on High school dropout rates]</ref><ref>[http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/ewp_03.htm Manhattan Institute article on High school dropout rates / Value of GED certificate] </ref><ref>[http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.com/shr2004/components/hsgrad.html United Health Foundation article on High school dropout rates]</ref> A high school diploma or [[GED]] certificate is usually required for entrance into a two or four-year [[college]] or [[university]] and to other post-secondary education programs.
 
−
 
 
−
High schools can usually be sub-classed as general high schools, [[vocational high schools]] (VoTech schools), and [[University-preparatory school|college preparatory high schools]] (prep schools) and [[Alternative high school]]s. Most high schools are general high schools. These schools offer a wide range of educational opportunities intended for the widest range of students possible. These general population schools offer college preparatory classes for advanced students, general education classes for average students and remedial courses for those who are struggling. Students can "mix and match" course levels according to their own abilities or interests.
 
−
 
 
−
In some school districts exceptionally high-performing students are offered enrollment at a district [[University-preparatory school|college preparatory high school]]. Traditionally "prep schools" in North America were usually private institutions, though most medium or large public (state) school districts now offer prep schools for advanced students. Public prep schools draw the top students from their district and have strict entrance requirements. All academic classes offered in these schools are classified as [[honors]], [[International Baccalaureate]], or [[Advanced Placement]].
 
−
 
 
−
[[Vocational school|Vocational high schools]] offer hands-on training to students that prepares them for careers in fields such as information technology, marketing, business, engineering and the medical professions. While some graduates of vocational or career and technical education high schools will go directly into a trade, others will pursue postsecondary education. Vocational high schools are sometimes but not always associated with low-performing students (not necessarily [[special education]] students) or those at risk of dropping out of traditional schools, in order to offer these students the chance to earn their diploma and have marketable skills after graduation. The [[Association for Career and Technical Education]] is the largest national education association dedicated to career and technical education.
 
−
 
 
−
[[Alternative high school]]s are offered for students who have major disciplinary or mental health difficulties that make it problematic to educate them in traditional high school settings. Some alternative high schools are assigned as security risks, where the school houses students who are not yet old enough to legally leave school and are considered a danger to other students or teachers, but have not been convicted of a crime. Some alternative high schools are dedicated to students with drug or mental health difficulties and have medical and psychological staff on site. A few of these schools include a nursery and a child care staff so that teen parents can finish their education without having to find child care during the school day. Alternative high schools may have their own campus, but are often located in a section or wing of a general high school.
 
−
 
 
−
Alternative school can also refer to a school with a more flexible program of study or teaching methods.
 
−
 
 
−
Another recent form of high school that has emerged is the online high school. Stanford University's own [[Education Program for Gifted Youth]] recently received a generous donation and used it to create the first truly complete online high school, with an interactive and advanced program for advanced learners.
 
−
 
 
−
High School in the United States usually begins in late August or early September of each year, and ends in late May or early June. During the excess two and a half months, the students are given summer vacation to rest from the hectic school year.
 
−
 
 
−
*  9th Grade - [[Freshman]] Year
 
−
* 10th Grade - [[Sophomore]] Year
 
−
* 11th Grade - [[Junior]] Year
 
−
* 12th Grade - [[Senior]] Year
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 173: Line 97:
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
−
 
+
* Daniels, Howard, Marilyn Bizar, and Steven Zemelman. ''Rethinking High School: Best Practice in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership ''. Heinemann, 2000. ISBN 0325003246.
−
 
+
* Franklin, Barry M., and Gary McCulloch (eds.). ''The Death of the Comprehensive High School? Historical, Contemporary, and Comparative Perspectives''. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. ISBN 1403977690.
−
 
+
* Marsh, David D., and Judy B. Codding (eds). ''The New American High School''. Corwin Press, 1998. ISBN 0803962266.
−
 
+
* Mondale, Sarah (ed.). ''School: The Story of American Public Education''. Beacon Press, 2002. ISBN 0807042218.
 +
* Omatseye, Jim Nesin, and Bridget Olirejere Omatseye. ''Going to School in Sub-Saharan Africa''. Greenwood Press, 2008. ISBN 0313340714.
 +
* Owings, William, and Leslie Kaplan. ''American Public School Finance''. Wadsworth Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0534643728.
 +
* Postiglione, Gerard A., and Jason Tan (eds.). ''Going to School in East Asia''. Greenwood Press, 2007. ISBN 0313336334.
 +
* Rohlen, Thomas P. ''Japan's High Schools''. University of California Press, 1983. ISBN 0520048636.
 
{{Credits|High_school|221954287|}}
 
{{Credits|High_school|221954287|}}

Latest revision as of 15:48, 25 January 2023

Schools
Musica 1488.jpg
Education
History of education
Pedagogy
Teaching
Homeschooling
Preschool education
Child care center
Kindergarten
Primary education
Elementary school
Secondary education
Middle school
Comprehensive school
Grammar school
Gymnasium
High school
Preparatory school
Public school
Tertiary education
College
Community college
Liberal arts college
University

A high school is the name used in some parts of the world, particularly in North America, to describe an institution which provides all or part of secondary education. The precise stage of schooling provided by a high school differs from country to country, and may vary within the same jurisdiction. Though they may go by different names, most countries around the world have schools that are similar in philosophy to high schools. In most parts of the world it is the last stage of compulsory schooling, and prepares a student to continue on to higher education, such as a college, university, or vocational schooling. Graduation from high school is considered a significant rite of passage in many cultures, particularly the United States.

In addition to completing this level of academic studies, high schools offer adolescents support in making the transition from childhood to adulthood in social, career, and other interests through extra-curricular activities as well as purely academic studies. High schools face serious challenges in fulfilling these goals, both academically and socially. In many cases the social environment of high schools is far from ideal, with the result that many students fail to achieve their potential and leave without graduating. Nevertheless, the establishment of high schools and the availability of this level of education to all students is beneficial to society.

Purpose

High schools and similar institutions provide the final stages of secondary education. In some countries, they provide the last stages of compulsory education while in others they are advancements for students who plan to attend tertiary education. Either way, these schools have two significant purposes. First, they are designed to meet the educational expectations set by the state or government, which usually includes a fundamental understanding of mathematics, basic sciences, language skills, geography, government, and history. Secondly, these institutions are charged with preparing students for life after high school, which means either providing technical/vocational skills so that students can enter the workforce, or preparing students for advanced study in college. Additionally, high schools offer adolescents support in making the transition from childhood to adulthood in social, career, and other interests through extra-curricular activities as well as purely academic studies. Graduation from high school is considered a significant rite of passage in many cultures, particularly the U.S.

History

Columbia County High School, in Lake City, Florida

Before public high schools were first developed in the United States, secondary education in Europe and the West was limited to private tutors and institutions whose main goal was to prepare its students for entrance into a university. The public high school movement, which started in the Massachusetts, was established as a way to satisfactorily educate and prepare for college a larger number of students. By the late nineteenth century the U.S. was the first country to have free, public high schools.[1]

By the beginning of the twentieth century, high schools started to be developed in all parts of the country, as a larger middle class was developing and the benefits of educating younger people before they entered the workforce became realized, particularly in urban areas.[1] The large farming communities and rural populations in the United States during the beginning half of the twentieth century were the last to establish public high schools, as males of high school age were already employed in manual labor. High schools for girls and minorities were slow coming as well, but by the middle of the twentieth century high schools were the norm in every state.

Organization and governance

Individual states, counties, and school districts have considerable leeway in how they choose to divide their school levels. A few American schools still include all grades seven through twelve, but usually grades nine through twelve constitute high school, with middle school offering grades six, seven, and eight. Students in American high schools are known according to their grade as "Freshmen" (ninth grade), "Sophomores" (tenth grade), "Juniors" (eleventh grade), and "Seniors" (twelfth grade).

Students generally graduate from high school in the year of their eighteenth birthday if they were born between January 1 and August 31, but this varies by state depending on the kindergarten cut-off date, which ranges from August 1 to January 1.[2] As a practical matter, while laws in most states mandate school attendance at least until graduation or age 16, many require attendance until age 17 or 18.[3] Enforcement of truancy laws is sometimes sporadic. Conversely, students who have failed a grade may remain in high school past the age of 18. In general, students over 19 attend alternative classes to receive a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate. State laws vary on the cut-off age for students to receive free public education services. A high school diploma or GED certificate is usually required for entrance into a two or four-year college or university and to other post-secondary education programs. In 1998, the average American graduation rate from high school was 71 percent.[4]

High schools can be sub-classed as general high schools, vocational high schools (VoTech schools), and college preparatory high schools (prep schools) and alternative high schools. Most high schools are general high schools. These schools offer a wide range of educational opportunities intended for the widest range of students possible. These general population schools offer college preparatory classes for advanced students, general education classes for average students, and remedial courses for those who need additional academic support. Students can "mix and match" course levels according to their own abilities or interests.

In some school districts exceptionally high-performing students are offered enrollment at a district college preparatory high school. Traditionally "prep schools" in North America were usually private institutions, though most medium or large public (state) school districts now offer prep schools for advanced students. Public prep schools draw the top students from their district and have strict entrance requirements. All academic classes offered in these schools are classified as honors, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced Placement.

Variations

Textile Vocational school in Pernik, Bulgaria

Vocational high schools offer hands-on training to students to prepare them for careers in fields such as information technology, marketing, business, engineering, and the medical professions. While some graduates of vocational or career and technical education high schools go directly into a trade, others pursue postsecondary education. Vocational high schools are sometimes but not always associated with low-performing students (not necessarily special education students) or those at risk of dropping out of traditional schools, in order to offer these students the chance to earn their diploma and have marketable skills after graduation. The Association for Career and Technical Education is the largest national association of professionals dedicated to career and technical education.[5]

Alternative high schools are institutions designed for students who have major disciplinary or mental health difficulties that make it problematic to educate them in traditional high school settings.[6] Some alternative high schools are assigned as security risks, where the school houses students who are not yet old enough to legally leave school and are considered a danger to other students or teachers, but have not been convicted of a crime. Some alternative high schools are dedicated to students with drug or mental health difficulties and have medical and psychological staff on site. A few of these schools include a nursery and a child care staff so that teen parents can finish their education without having to find child care during the school day. Alternative high schools may have their own campus, but others are located in a section or wing of a general high school.

Another form of high school that has emerged is the online high school. Stanford University's own Education Program for Gifted Youth received a generous donation and used it to create the first truly complete online high school, with an interactive and advanced program for advanced learners.[7]

Facilities

High school football field

Most high schools are generally the largest of compulsory school buildings, and have facilities similar to but larger than those at middle schools. Classrooms tend to be larger, and specialty rooms, such as science laboratories, art rooms, computer laboratories, technology, and industrial work spaces, often have better and more complex equipment as these subjects tend to become more intensive when studied at the high school level. Nearly all states require high schools to have cafeterias which provide food (for a cost) to its students, as well health offices. Gymnasiums for physical education and outdoor athletic spaces are common. Auditoriums which can double for theatric and concert performances as well as school meetings are also commonly included.

Cultural Variations

The following is a sampling of some of the different types of high schools around the world, grouped by continent:

Africa

In South Africa, high school begins at eighth grade. Students study for five years, at the end of which they write what is known as "matric." Students must attain a pass in their Home Language, Additional Language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and Life Orientation to progress on to university.[8]

Students in Kenya's major secondary schools (high schools) take four years to prepare for college. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education are undertaken at the end of secondary education. As of 2008, the government has introduced plans to offer free secondary education to all. There are three types of secondary school: Private schools, government-aided schools, and harambee schools. The government-aided schools are more selective and only one out of four children are accepted. Acceptance is based on a child’s score on the Kenya Certification of Primary Education (KCPE). Most of the government-aided schools are boarding schools.

In Nigeria, students spend six years in secondary school. At the end of three years, they take the Junior Secondary School exam (JSS3 exam) which is a qualifying exam for senior secondary school. By Senior Secondary School Class 2 (SS2), students are taking the GCE O Levels exam, which is not mandatory, but most students take it to prepare for the Senior Secondary School Exam. The Senior Secondary School Exam is taken in the last year of high school (SS3). Private organizations, the state or federal government manages secondary schools in Nigeria.

Asia

In India, where education is compulsory until age 14, high school is a grade of education which includes Standards IX to XII. Usually, students from ages 14 to 18 study in this section. These schools may be affiliated to national boards like CBSE or ISC or various state boards.[9]

Japanese high school students wearing the seifuku


The Japanese word for a high school is kōtōgakkō (高等学校; literally high school), or kōkō (高校) in short. High school in Japan covers grades 10 through 12, and is not mandatory. Most Japanese people attend high school.[10] The third year of high school in Japan is allotted for students to prepare for college exams known as juken （受験）. Others may wish to settle for a job instead. High schools in Japan are referred to by MEXT as "upper secondary schools."[11]

In South Korea, students from grades 10 through 12 attend high schools. High schools in South Korea may also have subject specialty tracks. For example, students who have a talent for science, foreign language, physical activity, art, and so forth may choose to go to a science, foreign language, or other specialty high school (hangul:특수목적고등학교; Revised:Teuksu-mokjeok godeung hakgyo).[12] Korean students may also choose to go to common high school (hangul:인문계 고등학교; Revised Romanization:Inmun-Gyae godeung hakgyo), while other students may choose a vocational track high school which emphasizes agriculture, commerce, or technical trade curricula (hangul:전문계 고등학교; Revised Romanization: Jeonmun Gyae godeung hakgyo).

Europe

The Finnish education system charges no tuition fees for full-time students and free meals are served to pupils. The second level education is not compulsory, but an overwhelming majority attends. There is a choice between upper secondary school (lukio, gymnasium) and vocational school (ammatillinen oppilaitos, yrkesinstitut). Upper secondary school, unlike vocational school, concludes with a nationally graded matriculation examination (ylioppilastutkinto, studentexamen). Passing the test is a prerequisite for further education. The system is designed so that approximately the lowest scoring five percent fail in each exam and also five percent achieve the highest grade. The exam allows for a limited degree of specialization in either natural sciences or social sciences. Graduation from high school is an important formal family event, like a christening, wedding, or funeral.

The Finnish system resembles the German gymnasium. Usually the students that attend a gymnasium school in Germany are the most academically strong students upon leaving primary school. The gymnasium helps to prepare students to enter a university, and is the most rigorous and prestigious level of secondary education in Germany. Gymnasia are thus meant for the more academically-minded students, who are sifted out at about the age of 10 to 13, a system similar to the eleven plus exam formerly used to select grammar school entrants in the United Kingdom. Those students who are not qualified to enter gymnasia attend one of the three other types of German secondary schools: Realschule, Hauptschule, or Gesamtschule.[13]

In the Netherlands, high school is called "middelbare school" (literally: "Middle school)" and starts right after the eighth grade of primary school (group eight). The pupils who attend high school are around the age of 12. Because the education in the Netherlands is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16 (and partially compulsory between the ages of 16 and 18), all pupils must attend high school. The high schools are part of the voortgezet onderwijs (literally: "Continued education"). The voortgezet onderwijs consist of three main streams; vmbo (four grades), havo (five grades) and vwo (six grades). The pupils usually cannot choose the type of secondary education they want to follow, as it depends on the opinion of the group eight teacher.

Wetherby High School, a former secondary modern school in Wetherby, West Yorkshire that adopted the term "High School."

In France, high schools are called Lycée. The lycée prepares the student to pass the baccalauréat (known as le bac); this allows the student to continue to higher education, studies in technology, or directly enter their profession, depending on the type of baccalauréat. Public French universities are required to accept any student who attains the baccalauréat général. However, there are also Grandes écoles, elite higher education establishments which function outside of the public university system, that traditionally have produced France's highest ranking politicians, executives, and scientists. Entrance to these institutions requires classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles, two to three-year courses, often offered by historical, prestigious, and selective lycées.[14]

Medina High School, one of the five state-maintained high schools on the Isle of Wight.

In Ireland, students attend secondary school from first year through sixth (usually aged 12 to 18), with an optional fourth year known as "transition year." Once a student turns 16, they have the option to leave school legally. Secondary school is divided into three parts; the "junior cycle," encompassing first year through third, at the end of which students sit the Junior Certificate; "transition year," an optional fourth year; and the "senior cycle," from fifth year through sixth, at the end of which students sit the Leaving Certificate.

The term "high school" is not used officially in the United Kingdom, although many secondary schools call themselves high schools, particularly in Scotland, the north of England, and in some parts of Wales. Secondary schools in the state sector in the UK generally cater for children between the ages of 11 and 16 or 18, in two stages (Key Stage 3 and 4). Compulsory education ends in Key Stage 3, but students may elect to go on for two more years in programs offered by Sixth Form departments. In the private sector pupils often transfer to the final stage of education at age 13.

North America

High School in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Secondary schooling in Canada differs depending on the province. In Ontario, high school is usually from grades 9 to 12, but can be from 7 to 12 depending on the school's location (urban/rural). In most urban areas in Ontario, schools with grades 7 and 8 are referred to as "middle school" or "senior public." When grades 7 to 9 are together, it is referred to as "junior high school." In Alberta high school starts in grade 10 and finishes in grade 12. However in Quebec, high school is from Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 (grades 7 to 11). In Quebec most students follow high school by attending a CÉGEP, which is comparable to a two-year junior college and is obligatory for Quebec students wishing to go on to university. Vocational CÉGEP is three years. Education is compulsory up to the age of 16 in every province in Canada, except for Ontario and New Brunswick (where the compulsory age is 18).

Originally schools were divided by religion, although most provinces have since abolished this separation. Provinces such as Ontario, Alberta, and certain cities in Saskatchewan are exceptions, publicly funded by a separate school board. Quebec replaced their religious based system with an English and French school board system in 1998. Students in Quebec can only attend a publicly funded English-language school (through high school) if at least one of their parents attended an English-language school somewhere in Canada. Otherwise, their only publicly funded option would be a French-language school. This requirement was implemented to encourage the children of immigrants living in Quebec to attend French-language schools. Of course, anyone is free to choose to pay to attend a private school in the language he or she chooses.

In Mexico, the equivalent of high schools are called upper-secondary schools. Unlike the rest of basic education in the country, this stage is non-compulsory and has three pathways: general upper-secondary, technical professional education, and technological upper-secondary, which helps determine if a student will go on to college or join the workforce upon completion.

Oceania

Croydon High School, West Croydon, Adelaide, South Australia

In Australia the terms "high school" and "secondary college" may be used interchangeably. In the Australian Capital Territory high school is years seven to ten, and students go to senior school for years 11 and 12. In some states TAFE institutes/colleges offer high school equivalent courses, usually undertaken by adult students who left school without completing Year 12 leaving certificate requirements. There are also private commercial education facilities offering Year 12 leaving certificate courses, often to students wishing to improve on their high school results in order to obtain entry to, or better placement opportunities at, university. The exact length of secondary schooling varies from state to state, with high schools in New South Wales and Victoria serving years 7 to 12, and Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia serving years 8 to 12. The Northern Territory has introduced a middle school system for years seven to nine, with high school consisting of years 10 to 12.

South America

In Brazil, high school is officially called Ensino Médio and is also informally known as Colegial or Segundo Grau. It is the last phase to the basic education in this country. Brazilian high school lasts three years, attempting to deepen what students learn in elementary school and junior high school. A Brazilian high school student is referenced by their year: first, second, and third years.[15] Unlike many other countries, Brazilian students have no final test to conclude their studies. Their completion depends only on the final grade on each subject. Each university develops its own test to select new students. Enem, a non-mandatory national exam, evaluates high school students in Brazil and is used to rank schools, both private and public.

High school in Chile

Secondary education in Argentina is called Polimodal ("polymodal," that is, having multiple modes), since it allows the student to choose his/her orientation. Polimodal is not yet obligatory but its completion is a requirement to enter colleges across the nation. Polimodal is usually 3 years of schooling, although some schools have a fourth year.

In Chile secondary school, (Enseñanza media), is for teenagers from 13 to 18 years old, and is divided into four grades. It is also divided into two different pathways: Scientific-humanities approach in which students can choose a major in either science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology), or humanities (literature, history, sociology), and technical-professional education where students receive extra education in the so-called "technical" areas, such as electricity, mechanics, metalwork, and the like.[16] This second type of education is more typical of public schools (Liceos), to give students from poorer areas a chance to work right away after completion of high school, as a way to fund a possible higher education career later.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Donald B. Holsinger, History of Secondary Education, Encyclopedia of Education. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  2. ↑ Kristie Kauerz, State Kindergarten Policies: Straddling Early Learning and Early Elementary School, Journal for the National Association of the Education of Children (2005). Retrieved August 14, 2008
  3. ↑ Information Please® Database, State Compulsory School Attendance Laws Pearson Education, Inc., 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  4. ↑ Jay P. Greene, High School Graduation Rates in the United States, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (2001). Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  5. ↑ The Association for Career and Technical Education, About ACTE. Retrieved August 14, 2008
  6. ↑ Robert A. Gable et al., "Changing Perspectives on Alternative Schooling for Children and Adolescents With Challenging Behavior," Preventing School Failure 51(1) (Fall 2006): 5.
  7. ↑ Stanford University, Online High School. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  8. ↑ Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, A Country Study: South Africa (2005). Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  9. ↑ Encyclopedia Beta, Education in India.
  10. ↑ Thomas P. Rohlen, Japan's High Schools (University of California Press, 1983, ISBN 0520048636).
  11. ↑ Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Elementary and Secondary School. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  12. ↑ Andrea Matles Savada and William Shaw, (eds.), South Korea: A Country Study (Washington, DC: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1990). Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  13. ↑ Encarta® Online Encyclopedia, Gymnasium (school) (Microsoft Corporation, 2008). Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  14. ↑ H. D. Lewis, The French Education System (London: Croom Helm, 1985, ISBN 0709916833).
  15. ↑ United Nations, Brazil-Education. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
  16. ↑ Santiago.cl, Education. Retrieved August 15, 2008.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Daniels, Howard, Marilyn Bizar, and Steven Zemelman. Rethinking High School: Best Practice in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership . Heinemann, 2000. ISBN 0325003246.
  • Franklin, Barry M., and Gary McCulloch (eds.). The Death of the Comprehensive High School? Historical, Contemporary, and Comparative Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. ISBN 1403977690.
  • Marsh, David D., and Judy B. Codding (eds). The New American High School. Corwin Press, 1998. ISBN 0803962266.
  • Mondale, Sarah (ed.). School: The Story of American Public Education. Beacon Press, 2002. ISBN 0807042218.
  • Omatseye, Jim Nesin, and Bridget Olirejere Omatseye. Going to School in Sub-Saharan Africa. Greenwood Press, 2008. ISBN 0313340714.
  • Owings, William, and Leslie Kaplan. American Public School Finance. Wadsworth Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0534643728.
  • Postiglione, Gerard A., and Jason Tan (eds.). Going to School in East Asia. Greenwood Press, 2007. ISBN 0313336334.
  • Rohlen, Thomas P. Japan's High Schools. University of California Press, 1983. ISBN 0520048636.

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