Secondary education in USA for international students

While applying to schools in the United States, international students should plan carefully and pay attention to detail. Firstly, it is necessary to find institutions considering such factors as location, tuition fees, available courses, and entry requirements. Most schools in the U.S. have admissions requirements that include standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT for undergraduate programs and the GRE or GMAT for graduate programs. Additionally, it is required to confirm a good level of English through such tests as TOEFL or IELTS.

Upon creating a list of desired institutions, you need to prepare all required documents and fill out the application forms. Typically you are asked to submit the following documents: transcripts of records, recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, and in some cases samples of your work, depending on your field of study. Pay great attention to application deadlines, which vary depending on a chosen institution or even between different programs within the same school. Submitting a complete and timely application will significantly improve your chances for enrolment.

Financial issues are another important aspect to consider when applying to schools in the U.S. Foreign students are required to provide confirmation of sufficient funds to pay for education and living expenses during the period of studying. This confirmation can be provided in the form of bank statements or financial guarantees from sponsors. Some schools also offer scholarships and financial aid to international students. It is recommended to consider these options before applying to school. Upon submitting an application, the waiting period begins. During this period, schools may request additional information or set an interview. It is important to respond promptly and monitor your application status.

In case of getting an offer of admission, you will need to obtain a student visa. The most common type for full-time international students is the F-1 visa. The visa application process stipulates an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy and submitting various documents, in particular the I-20 form, which your school will provide upon admission and payment of the tuition fee.

To sum up, applying to schools in the United States is a multi-level process, which stipulates search of schools, complying with admission requirements, submitting applications, and planning finances. Due diligence in each of these steps can help in securing a spot in a U.S. institution.

Secondary school education is a step in academic and personal growth. School curriculum at the best secondary schools in the USA includes Mathematics, English, Natural and Social Sciences, Physical Education, and one or two elective disciplines. The majority of students choose courses in crafts, foreign languages, and the arts.

Tailored Learning: Profile-Oriented Education at the Best Secondary Schools in the USA

Boarding school students are divided into groups based on their academic performance in various disciplines. If a student excels in particular subjects, he may attend a more intensive program, stipulating difficult tasks and additional materials for self-study.

In Private schools in the USA, classes are usually small with about 15 students, it allows to provide personalized attention to each student. The curriculum is flexible, letting students choose their subjects and thus shape their academic paths. Moreover, the educational process in schools is organised in such way that theoretical knowledge is applied in practice. Thus, students are taught to be self-sufficient.

Standardized Testing: Preparing for the SAT

Upon graduation from secondary school, there is a requirement to take the SAT exam, you should consult a chosen college or university's webpage to learn more about the required scores and submission dates.

Exploring Future Pathways: Specializations at Language Camps

Foreign students can further explore their interests at American language camps, with popular specializations in:

• economic studies;

• legal studies;

• mathematical studies;

• engineering;

• sports.

By learning  specific features of secondary education in the USA, international students can make a more informed decision about studying abroad, and obtaining good prospects for the future.

The tuition fee at the best institutions in the USA depends on various factors, among which are school ranking, academic performance, and historical prestige. On average, the cost of studying varies from $45,000 to $80,000 per year, including the studies, accommodation, and meals.

Secondary education in the United States is the level of education that follows elementary school and precedes higher education. It includes grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, which corresponds to the ages from about 14 to 18. During this period, students prepare for university or college admission and receive further education in a variety of subjects to develop their knowledge and skills.

The structure of secondary education in the United States includes a diverse curriculum: compulsory and optional subjects. It usually includes subjects such as Maths, English, Natural Sciences, Social Studies, Arts, and Physical Education. Students can also choose additional subjects and courses based on their interests.

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a student's average grade, which is calculated based on grades earned in all courses. It plays an important role in university and college admissions. GPA helps in evaluating the academic performance of a student. It is usually graded on a scale of 0 to 4, where 4.0 is the highest grade and 0 is the lowest.

The high school provides students with a wide variety of subjects that they can study. These may include different levels of difficulty, arts courses (music, visual arts, theater), physical education classes, and additional interest courses such as IT or STEM, foreign languages, or science studies. Many schools offer Advanced Placement courses that provide college-level workload while still studying at school. 

To earn a high school diploma, a student is usually required to complete all credits in the school curriculum. He or she must also comply with the attendance and behavior policies established by the school. Each state may have different requirements for high school graduation.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are advanced courses developed by the College Board that may be offered in high school. They provide students with a higher level of difficulty and allow for college credit if the student successfully passes the appropriate exam. AP courses can increase a student's academic preparation and GPA.

There are several college preparatory programs such as International Baccalaureate (IB) and Honors courses. IB is an international program that provides more in-depth instruction and prepares students for higher education. Honors courses also provide a higher level of challenge and focus on academic preparation.

There are many prestigious private and public schools in the United States, and their rankings can depend on a variety of factors. A school's place on a ranking list can depend on its academic reputation, test scores, athletic performance, and other factors. Some of the most well-known and prestigious US schools include Harvard-Westlake School, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Yes, international students can enroll in U.S. high schools. There are study programs for international students that may include both short-term exchanges and long-term courses in the United States. These often require an F-1 visa and appropriate documentation.

Participation on the school's athletic teams may be available to students who have been selected and meet eligibility requirements. These may include physical fitness, meeting academic standards, and participation in practices and competitions.

The SSAT is an exam for admission to high school (Secondary School Admission Test), the most affordable and convenient option for international students, since the rest of the tests, in general, can only be taken in America.

The exam has three levels - simple, intermediate and advanced: they differ in duration, complexity and final score. If the maximum score on the simplest is 4, on the advanced level it is 11. Tthe cost of taking an exam is from $205 to $287.

There are two ways to take the exam:

• on paper, in specialized test centers, the test is available five times a year (you can find out the address of the nearest center on the official website, there is also a schedule for taking the test),
• computer testing in test centers. Available to students in grades 5-11.

Children from the age of 14 are enrolled in high school. In the United States, there are mixed schools, junior/senior high schools, where they begin to study from the 6th grade and continue until graduation, and there are separate schools intended only for students in grades 9-12.

High school is the only opportunity to study in public exchange schools, and only for one year. For the right to study in an American school, you will have to pay $5000-12,000.

Here, students are actively prepared for admission to higher educational institutions. Schoolchildren face two tasks:

• Gain the required number of credits to complete your studies. For six months of study, they give half a credit, for the whole - one, and so on. Requirements may vary by state. Some disciplines, including English, mathematics, history, science and sports, are mandatory, and other courses can be chosen based on your interests or an additional argument for the admissions committee when considering the application.
• Get additional credits. To do this, you can move to the Honors subject group in high school or complete a program at the AP university level. Excellent academic performance in a specialized discipline will be required: it will not be possible to study law or economics at an advanced level without excellent scores in social sciences last year. The higher the AP, the higher the chances of successful admission.

Senior High School attaches great importance to the assessment of progress. These are tests, scientific projects with laboratory ones, and much more, which together form the final and average score. The latter is the most important criterion for admission to higher educational institutions. For evaluation, percentage or letter systems, five-point, ten-point, as well as models that are multiples of 6, 11 or 12 can be used. Some schools have final exams, but in 8 cases out of 10, it is not necessary to take them, instead it is more important to pay attention to preparing for the SAT/ACT.

High school students can live in boarding or with a host family, they still need a guardian.

The deadlines for enrollment in shs are different from others: documents are accepted until January, and the results of admission are accepted as early as February. However, common sense suggests that with high competition, it is better to start preparing for admission in advance, a year or two before submitting documents. The results of the consideration of applications are reported in March; Most often, they are published on school websites.

When considering an application, pay attention to:

• Age (from the age of 14 you can live both on campus and with a host family);
• Academic performance (for enrollment, an average score of at least 3.5 is required (with a four-point system));
• Language is not lower than B2;
• Entrance exams: SSAT, ISEE tests, additional exams in specialized subjects.

Transcripts and school reports, motivation and recommendation letters are also required. In some cases, a recommendation from the principal or school mentor, a registration fee is requested.

Foreign students rarely have to deal with the negative features of the education system in a particular country, and if they do, we are talking about quite specific things. We can mention:

• Pricing policy

Even public and charter schools, free for Americans, are very expensive for foreigners. If we are talking about a private school, the cost soars to 40-70 thousand dollars a year, and this is not the limit. Of course, many schools offer scholarships and support programs, but they rarely cover 100% of the cost. In addition to this, expat training becomes even more expensive due to the need to cover travel costs, accommodation, additional classes, and visa costs. Moreover, life in the United States is not a cheap pleasure.

• Serious workload

In terms of teaching load, American schoolchildren may well compete with the Chinese and Japanese. In addition to the academic program, there are additional electives. All this requires a colossal motivational "vaccination".

• Adaptation

In order to fully engage in the educational process, already in secondary school, a teenager has to deal with a workload comparable to that of a university. After the Russian system, it will not be easy to adapt to such a pace, especially when everyone around speaks a foreign language and everything around is unfamiliar and new.

• Religious component

It's hard to believe, but more than 50% of schools in the United States are religious, usually belonging to the Roman Catholic Church or Protestant denominations (with classes enrolled regardless of denomination). Do not expect that every action will be accompanied by prayer songs: most often education will be secular, and prayers will make the greatest part of some school activities. However, this may be unpleasant or uncomfortable for some.

In America, there are public and independent, or private, schools. Over 80% of students attend public schools. They have an important advantage - free of charge (for US citizens; foreigners can study on exchange for up to a year in grades 9-12, but even in this case the study becomes paid).

To send a child to a public school, the family must be a US tax resident, that is, have citizenship or a long-term visa with the right to work. Most often, schools recruit children from areas nearby, but there are free schools where this rule does not apply. The choice of schools in the United States is given great importance; The proximity of a good school often plays an important role when looking for housing. Located nearby, such educational institutions increase the value of both commercial facilities and residential buildings by 20-30%.

Public schools are divided into 3 types:

• Traditional (the name is conditional);
• Charter, combining government funding and pilot programs;
• Magnetic (the closest analogue of Russian special schools with a profile bias).

It is generally accepted that public school in the United States is the lot of the unsuccessful and poor, but this is a misconception; Robert Simon, Fox Meadow or Basis Scottsdale Elementary Schools, Davidson Academy Secondary Schools, Boston Basic Charter School Network, Bergen District Academy or Illinois Academy of Mathematics and Science are able to compete with the best private schools.

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