Fyi: it’s called post secondary because, I think, UK calls it primary, secondary, and after that is post secondary.
Texas, US. We called it Elementary (optional Pre-K, required K through 5), Middle (6 through 8), and High (9 through 12). They’re called Primary and Secondary when filling out forms or legal documents.
Also Texas, US (grew up in Lubbock graduated 96) we had Elementary (K-6), Jr High (7-9), and High School (10-12). Now I live in Plano and have kids in school here. The specific area we are in has Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-10), and Sr High (11-12). 🤷♂️
I went to school in the US state of Georgia. It was elementary (k-5), middle (6-8), and high (9-12). There was a school district next to mine that had a primary school that was k-2 and elementary was 3-5. There were other districts that had the 6th grade in elementary school, although that was becoming less common.
US.
Middle School and Jr. High vary depending on how the grades break.
When I was coming up it was this:
Grade School: 1-6
Jr. High - 7-9
High School - 10-12But when I hit 9th grade, they changed it:
Grade School: 1-5
Middle School: 6-8
High School: 9-12Romania. We call it primary (1-4), gymnasium (5-8) and lyceum (9-12). They come from French/Latin.
Latin is one of the roots of our language and we underwent a big pro-Latin cultural movement in the 19th century, while French also had a big cultural and educational influence.
UK:
- Pre-school
- Primary school
- Secondary school (BUT my old HS literally has “high school” in the name so it’s interchangeable with “HS”)
- College (16-18)
- University
It can vary on area though. Some people have middle schools but I’ve no idea what ages they are since I’ve never seen one. Also, some UK people will hear me say “HS” and assume I’m American, not realising some secondary schools are called “high school”
To complicate matters more a “public school” is private.
ETA: I think US grades are off by one to UK “years”. Though I’ve got into arguments with Brits about this I can only reference my own life. So our “Year 7” kids starting high/secondary school are 11yo. I believe that’s 6th grade in the US?
I grew up in an area with middle schools, and went to one, I think they were age 8 to 12. So people went up to secondary school a year later than most regions. I have no idea why it was like that. We also had spam fritters for lunch which no-one else I know from my generation (Gen X) had to endure. We were just fucking weird I guess.
Weirdos make the world interesting. 🙂
I’ve heard of spam fritters but never had one. I’ve eaten a lot of ‘old fashioned’ foods though like toad int’ hole, kippers, faggots, etc.
Is “6th Form” not used as an alternative to College anymore (it was archaic when I went to 6th Form 20 years ago so wouldn’t be surprised if it has bitten the dust)
Yeah it is. Sorry I was talking mainly of my experience - I left school to go to college across the country but everyone I knew carried onto sixth form.
That along with all the other complications mentioned in another comment (HE College vs uni) makes for an exciting mess. 😁
Oh and it’s called 6th form cos you’re in year 6 of secondary school. Which is also called year 12!
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Czech Republic, and it’s pretty much the same as Slovakia (and perhaps other countries around here.)
Základní škola (elementary, ages ~6+), Střední škola (high school, ages ~15+), Vysoká škola (college, ages ~19+).
Střední škola is sometimes replaced with 4 or 8 years of Gymnázium starting after ZŠ (4-year G.) or after 5th grade (8-year G.) Střední škola is normally focused on a particular field, whereas Gymnázium is more generic and is normally followed by Vysoká škola.
US, Florida
When I went to school, we had grades 1-5 at one school (ages 6-10) 6th grade at another, 7th grade at another, 8-9th grade at a 'middle school 'sometimes called “junior high” and grades 10-12 at the high school, compulsory schooling ending at age 17 or 18 unless you failed a year, they didn’t allow skipping grades.
When my kids went, there were elementary schools for grades Kindergarten-5 (so ages 5-6 to 10-11) OR K-8, middle school for grades 6-8 if you weren’t at a K-8 and high school for grades 9-12.
In Mexico they are:
- Preescolar/Kinder/Jardín de niños (Preschool): ages 3-5 years old (can vary from state to state).
- Primaria (Elementary school): 6 years. Ages 6-12.
- Secundaria (Middle school): 3 years. Ages 12-15.
- Preparatoria/Bachillerato (High school): 3 years. Ages 15-18.
- Universidad (University, undergrad education): 2-8 years.
- Posgrado (Postgraduate education): Variable length. In my field a “Maestría” (Master’s degree) is 2 years, and a “Doctorado” (PhD) is 4 years.
Finland
0-5 year olds Kindergarten (voluntary)
6 y.o.'s pre-school (mandatory since 2018)
Grades 1-6 in comprehensive school are called “low school” (mandatory) Grades 7-9 in comprehensive school are called “high school” (mandatory)
Second degree years 1-3 (mandatory since 2021), you choose either “upper secondary (gymnasium)” or vocational school (or both).
And if you wish to study further university/uni of applied sciences. Basically everyone does their masters (3+2 years) if they choose uni. Uni of applied sciences is usually 3 years.
That’s interesting given that in California pre-school is 4-yo and kindergarten is the year after that.
US. Growing up it was:
- Grade school / elementary school: Kindergarten through Grade 6
- Junior high: Grades 7 & 8
- High school: Grades 9-12
- Undergrad (typically 4 years)
- Grad school (duration depends)
Scotland:
Primary school P1-P7 (~5-11) Secondary school S1-S6 (~12-17)
Germany: 4 years elementary school, after that the kids are divided into 3 school categories based on their performance:
Hauptschule 5-9, after that you either start apprenticeship for 3 years and learn a profession, or you continue with Realschule
Realschule 5-10, after that you either start apprenticeship for 3 years and learn a profession or you continue with Gymnasium
Gymnasium 5-12, after that you may apply for university. You can only enroll in university if you have completed grade 12 final exams (called Abitur)
In Germany kids are required to be enrolled in school or in apprenticeship by law until they turn 18
Ontario Canada Elementary, secondary but it depends on the school. Some are called high school, mine was called secondary school in the 90s but I think it’s called a high school these days.
where I live we have two schools; elementary and middle school/gymnasyum.
The first 4 class of elementary is the “lower”, the last 4 class are the “upper” classes.
after that, university or “main school” is where we go
