The United States School System (USA)
In Florida, all children ages 5 to 16 must go to school. The school year begins in late August or early September and ends in June. There are about three months of summer vacation in June, July and August.
The United States School System (USA)
In the United States there are public and private schools. Public schools are free, and private schools charge a fee called tuition. Funds to fund public schools come from property taxes in your community. If you own your home, part of the property taxes you pay help fund public schools. If you rent an apartment, the building owner pays property taxes. The owner of the building, therefore, uses part of his rent payment for these taxes. The government also helps fund public schools with other funds.
School districts and school boards.
In the United States , public schools are divided into districts. Some school districts include only one city or town, while other districts include more than one city or town. Every school district has a school board. Members of the school district live within their district. The school board makes decisions related to schools in the district. For example, the school board decides if the district needs to build new schools. The school board also elects a superintendent. The superintendent is the principal of the school district. Each district has a website where you can find important information, click here for Weston .
There are several kinds of schools in the United States.
Pre-school (ages: 3 or 4 years): Some children go to pre-school. In preschool, children play with other children and learn from their teacher. Children usually attend a few hours a day; 2, 3 or 5 days per week. Not all schools have a pre-school. Some pre-schools are free and others charge tuition.
Kindergarten (age: 5 years): If a child is 5 years old by the first of September or earlier, they will be able to go to kindergarten. If the child turns 5 on September 2, he must wait another year to enter. A child does not have to go to kindergarten, although most prefer. They attend kindergarten Monday through Friday. Most kindergarten classes last half a day and in some cases the full day.
Grades 1 through 8 (Elementary/Middle/Junior High School): School years in the United States are called “grades.” Children attend school between five and a half and seven hours daily, Monday through Friday. Younger children usually stay in one classroom and have one teacher for the entire school year. Older students usually have 6 and 8 different classes during the day and may change classrooms and teachers for each class. Schools for children in grades 5 or 6, and up to 8, are known as Middle Schools or Junior High Schools.
Grades 9 through 12 (High School): Children usually enter high school at age 14 and graduate at 18. High school students change classrooms and have different teachers during the day. High school prepares students to get jobs or continue their studies at a community college or university.
Before- and after-hours school programs: Some schools offer pre-school child care programs. In these schools, parents can take their children to school before school starts. Some schools also have programs for after school ends. In these schools, children can enroll in an after-school program in areas such as music, sports, homework help, or other activities. Schools charge a fee for these programs. You must enroll your children in the program and provide written permission before they can arrive early or stay after school.
Summer School: Many elementary or high schools offer summer school. Some classes in the summer are for students who need extra help in their studies. Other classes cover special or topical activities, such as computer classes, sports, science, etc. There may be a fee for summer classes.
After High School: Students who graduate from high school may decide to look for a job or join the military or continue studying at vocational schools, community colleges, or colleges or universities with 4-year school programs. In the United States there are many colleges and universities, private and public, with a 4-year school program. Colleges and universities, private and public, can be very expensive. Students can apply for scholarships and loans to pay for their education. Some young people join the armed forces to get free education.
Community colleges are public institutions with 2-year school programs funded by property and government taxes. They are less expensive than public or private universities. After attending a 2-year community college, students will be able to receive an Associate of Arts degree or transfer to a university with a 4-year program to continue their studies. Weston belongs to Broward County and corresponds to Broward Community College, El Doral is located in Miami-Dade County and corresponds to Miami-Dade Community College.
A youth must be in grades 1 through 12 to graduate from high school. It is very important to graduate from high school since most universities and jobs require a high school diploma. But some students drop out of high school before graduation and prefer to choose to finish in the special programs listed below:
Evening classes: Some high schools offer evening classes for students who dropped out of school.
Alternative high school: Some districts offer alternative high schools. They are usually small schools in a different building than an ordinary high school.
GED Classes: There are day and evening classes to help adults pass the General Educational Development (GED) tests. Adults can use the GED as a high school diploma. Most colleges and jobs accept the GED. Local branches of public libraries generally provide information on GED classes.
The U.S . school system has some features that you need to know about, especially if you or other parents you know plan to immigrate with your children to that country or have recently done so. Here are some of those features:
If the child does not speak English, he may be enrolled in a lower grade until his knowledge of the language improves. Many schools have special teachers for these cases or have special programs where they teach English as a second language (ESOL programs).
Children with special needs, due to physical or mental disability, attend the school system and may be in a regular classroom, unless the disability is very severe or requires special education.
Children who live near schools can walk to schools or in the family vehicle. For the others there is a free school transport system that picks up and drops off children close to home. Children can bring their own food to school or they can buy it at the school restaurant.
The school system usually gives children free books. Other items, such as notebooks and pencils, must be purchased by parents. If you cannot purchase these items you must inform the school. Some schools charge a reasonable fee for some implements and for special events, such as school trips.
Each state sets the academic benchmarks for schools. They define what students should know and what they should be able to do. Local school districts decide how that information should be taught.
Most schools teach English, math, social studies, science, and physical education. In some cases, art, music and foreign languages are also offered.
The school grading system is based on the work children do during the school calendar. Grades or grades take into account homework or homework, tests, attendance, and behavior in class. Parents receive a report on their child’s academic performance several times during the year. An A or A+ indicates excellent work; D, E or F indicate poor performance. Some schools employ a number system.
In the school system, contact between parents and teachers is valued. There are regular meetings for that purpose. In addition, parents may request to meet with teachers or school administrators. If parents do not speak English, you can ask ahead of time if anyone at the school speaks Spanish and if they can help you with translation during the meeting.
If the child is unable to attend school for any force majeure reason, the school must be informed by a note or phone call, and explain the reason for the absence. If it is a scheduled absence, it is necessary to notify the school in advance. The child will have to do the work he has lost once he returns to school.
Schools have a code of conduct, click here to see it. It is advisable to ask the school for this code and familiarize yourself with it. Students who break those rules may be sanctioned and may be required to remain in school at the end of the regular schedule. Or their participation in some school activities may be limited. Corporal punishment is NOT allowed in schools. A student can be suspended or expelled from school if they misbehave or frequently break school rules.
Most schools are safe places for children, although some schools, mainly high schools, have problems with violence, gangs or drugs.
Finally, schools are scored by a score determined by their students’ results on state exams (FCAT).
