High School Diploma and beyond

High School and secondary education

Never finished High School or your secondary education? You can complete your education in the Holy State University. At present time, we are offering High School and secondary education. Tuition costs are the same as for undergraduate education; we will evaluate your already completed education and would issue appropriate recommendations.

Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. The next stage of education is usually college or university. Secondary education is characterized by transition from primary education for minors to tertiary, "post-secondary", or "higher" education (e.g., university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, school for this period or a part of it may be called secondary school, high schools, gymnasia, lyceums, middle school, sixth-form, sixth-form college, vocational school and preparatory school, and the exact meaning of any of these varies between the systems.

How long it may take to complete your studies?

You will study at your own speed and you can graduate much sooner comparing to regular students in other schools.

General description of secondary education in the United States

As part of education in the United States, secondary education comprises grades 5 6, 7, 8, and 9 through 12. Grades 9 through 12 is the most common grade structure for high school.

In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education.Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade (at or around age 11 or 12), and high school, beginning with ninth grade (at or around age 14) and progressing to 12th grade (ending at or around age 18). Junior high school refers to grades seven through nine.

Middle schools

Middle schools (still commonly called by the older names "junior high school" and "intermediate school") are schools that span grades 6 through 8 or 9. Schools that overlap the 9th grade typically are referred to as "junior high schools". Both are between primary education/elementary education and high school. More rural districts offer an all-inclusive elementary school covering kindergarten to the 6th grade.

Some very small rural districts only have one school building in the district serving kindergarten to the 12th grade. The divisions vary widely by state and district. Some districts mix all inclusive elementary schools teaching kindergarten to the 6th grade, but split other schools in the district into elementary and middle schools. There is no general rule in the US as states and even districts within a state have a lot of control over the divisions.

Upon arrival in middle school or junior high school, students begin to enroll in class schedules where they take classes from several teachers in a given day. The classes are usually a set of four or five (if foreign language is included in the curriculum) core academic classes (English or "language arts," science, mathematics, history or "social studies," and in some schools, foreign language) with two to four other classes, either electives, supplementary, or remedial academic classes.

In school districts divided into middle and junior high schools, one of the main differences between the two is elective courses.

Some students also start taking a foreign language or advanced math and science classes in middle school. Typically schools will offer Spanish and French; and, often German; and, sometimes Latin; Chinese, Japanese, and/or Greek. In addition to Pre-Algebra and other high school mathematics prep courses, Algebra I and Geometry are both commonly taught. Schools also offer Earth Science, Life Science, or Physical Science classes. For social studies, some schools offer US History, Geography, and World History classes.

High schools

High school usually runs either from grades 9 to 12 or from grades 10 to 12. Thousands of private high schools also exist. The Catholic Church operates 1,220 of such institutions, as of 2007, with other religious groups operating their own high schools. Other private high schools are nonsectarian. 2.9% of all students, including elementary students, in 2007 were homeschooled. In high school, students obtain much more control of their education, and may choose even their core classes. The control given to students varies from state to state and school to school. In 2001 there were 26,407 public high schools and 10,693 private schools in the US.

History

The US historically had a demand for general skills rather than specific training/apprenticeships. At the turn of the 20th century, it was common for high schools to have entrance examinations which restricted entrance to fewer than 5 percent of the population in preparation for college. Most were expected to be ready for a job or family after junior high school. The first public secondary schools started to be offered around 1910 within wealthier areas of more equal income distribution.

In the early 20th century, America experienced a "high school movement" as high school enrollment and graduation rates increased steadily.

The high school movement was borne out of a shift to more practical curriculum, decentralized decision making of the school districts, and a policy of easy and open enrollment. The shift from theoretical to a more practical approach in curriculum also resulted in an increase of skilled blue-collar workers. The open enrollment nature and relatively relaxed standards, such as ease of repeating a grade, also contributed to the boom in secondary schooling. There was an increase in educational attainment, primarily from the grass-roots movement of building and staffing public high schools. However, after 1980, the growth in educational attainment decreased, which caused the growth of the educated workforce to slow down.

By 1955, the enrollment rates of secondary schools in the United States were around 80%, higher than enrollment rates in most or all European countries. The goal became to minimize the number who exited at the mandatory attendance age, which varies by state between 14 and 18 years of age, and become considered to be dropouts, at risk of economic failure. Later, standards-based education was embraced in most states and federal education policy with the goal of raising standards. It changed the measurement of success to academic achievement, rather than the completion of 12 years of education. By 2006, two-thirds of students lived in states with effective standards requiring passing tests to ensure that all graduates had achieved these standards.

Basic curriculum structure

There is a wide variance in curriculum for students in the United States. Since the turn of the 20th century, many high schools in the United States have offered a choice of vocational or college prep curriculum. Schools that offer vocational programs include a very high level of technical specialization, e.g., auto mechanics or carpentry, with a half-day instruction/approved work program in senior year as the purpose of the program is to prepare students for gainful employment without a college degree. The level of specialization allowed varies depending on both the state and district the school is located.

A class period is the time allotted for one class session. The classes a student signs up for are arranged in a certain order to fit his or her individual schedule and generally do not change for the remainder of the school year (with the exception of semester courses). A period may vary in time, but is usually 30–90 minutes long. Most schools have 7-8 short classes (30–45-minute) in their daily schedule, although some have an alternating block of 3–4 classes each day (typically 90 minutes). Many offer the option of including a study hall in a student's schedule.

There is wide variance in the curriculum required each year but many American high schools require that courses in the "core" areas of English, science, social studies, and mathematics be taken by the students every year although other schools merely set the required number of credits and allow the student a great deal of choice as to when the courses will be taken after 10th grade.

The majority of high schools require four English credits to graduate. Typically, all four levels of English classes include both standard and honors options.

Generally, three science courses are required. Biology, chemistry, and physics are usually offered. Courses such as physical and life science serve as introductory alternatives to those classes. Other science studies include geology, anatomy, astronomy, health science, environmental science, and forensic science.

High school mathematics courses typically include prealgebra, algebra I, geometry, algebra II, and trigonometry classes. Advanced study options can include precalculus, calculus, statistics, and discrete math generally with an opportunity to earn Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) accreditation. Usually, only three math credits are required for graduation (although four is recommended). Some high schools have now raised the requisite number of credits to four.

English/Language classes are usually required for four years of high school although many schools count journalism, public speaking/debate, foreign language, literature, drama, and writing (both technical and creative) classes as English/Language classes.

Required social science classes often include world history, US History, government, and economics. Government and economics classes are sometimes combined as two semester courses. Additional study options can include classes in law (constitutional, criminal, or international), criminal justice, sociology, and psychology.

Two years of physical education is commonly required, although some states and school districts require that all students take Physical Education every semester.

Many states require a Health or Wellness course in order to graduate. The class typically covers basic anatomy, nutrition, first aid, sexual education, and how to make responsible decisions regarding illegal drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. In some places, contraception is not allowed to be taught for religious reasons.

In some private religious schools, theology is required before a student graduates.

Electives

Public high schools offer a wide variety of elective courses, although the availability of such courses depends upon each particular school's financial situation. Some schools and states require students to earn a few credits of classes considered electives, most commonly foreign language and physical education.

Common types of electives include:

Visual arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, film studies, and art history)

Performing arts (choir, drama, band, orchestra, dance, guitar)

Vocational education (woodworking, metalworking, computer-aided drafting, automobile repair, agriculture, cosmetology, FFA)

Computer science/information technology (word processing, programming, graphic design, computer club, Web design and web programming, video game design, music production, film production)

Journalism/publishing (school newspaper, yearbook, television production)

Foreign languages (French, German, Italian, and Spanish are common; Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Greek, Latin, Korean, Dutch, and Portuguese are less common, though the former two are gaining increased popularity.

Business Education (Accounting, Data Processing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Business, Information and Communication Technology, Management, Marketing, and Secretarial)

Family and consumer science/health (nutrition, nursing, culinary, child development, and additional physical education and weight training classes)

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (In some schools, JROTC may replace a credit of health or P.E.)

Some American high schools offer drivers' education. At some schools, a student can take it during school as a regular course for a credit. At some schools, drivers education courses are only available after school.