The US School System Explained: K-12 Grades, Ages and Costs
The US school system, known as K-12, runs from kindergarten through 12th grade, a span of 13 years that usually starts at age 5 and ends at 17 or 18. There is no national curriculum. States set the rules, and thousands of local school districts run the schools, so a child's experience depends heavily on where the family lives. This page explains how grades work, how to enroll a child arriving from abroad, how schools are funded, and what the options are beyond the local public school. For college and university, see Studying in the US.
This page provides general information. Rules vary by state and school district, and the immigration points below are not legal advice; check with your local district and official sources.
Grades and Ages
Children are placed in grades by age, usually based on a state or district cutoff date around the start of the school year. Grade boundaries differ between districts: some have K-8 schools, or a grade 7-8 junior high.
| Stage | Grades | Typical ages |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool (optional, often paid) | Pre-K | 3-4 |
| Elementary school | K to 5 | 5-11 |
| Middle school | 6 to 8 | 11-14 |
| High school | 9 to 12 | 14-18 |
The four years of high school have their own names: freshman (9th), sophomore (10th), junior (11th) and senior (12th).
Is school compulsory? Yes, but states set the ages. Compulsory attendance typically begins at 5 to 7 and ends at 16 to 18. Kindergarten is offered almost everywhere, yet it is mandatory only in a minority of states. All 50 states allow other legal ways to meet the requirement, such as private school or homeschooling.
Enrolling a Child From Abroad
Public K-12 schools are free and open to children who live in the district. Under the Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe (1982), public schools cannot deny a child enrollment based on immigration status, and they should not ask you to prove it. Typical documents include:
- Proof of address, such as a lease or utility bill.
- The child's birth certificate or passport, as proof of age.
- Immunization records. States set the required vaccines and the exemptions, and rules have been changing in some states.
- Earlier school records, ideally with an English translation, to help with placement.
Schools must also help students who are still learning English and provide services to those with disabilities.
A visa warning: a child living with parents who hold a valid visa, such as H-1B or L-1 dependents, can normally attend public school. A child coming to the US to study alone on an F-1 visa is treated differently. F-1 students cannot attend public elementary or middle schools, and can attend a public high school for no more than 12 months, after paying its full cost. Most therefore go to a private school. Tourists and ESTA visitors cannot enroll in a course of study.
The School Year and Daily Life
The year generally runs from mid-August or September to May or June, with a summer break of about two to three months, and breaks for Thanksgiving, the winter holidays and spring. Dates vary by district, with Southern schools often starting earlier. The school day is usually about 6 to 7 hours and often starts early. Parents of younger children often rely on paid after-school programs and summer camps, as schools rarely cover the full working day.
Other features stand out to many foreign parents:
- Yellow school buses are usually free where the district offers them.
- School lunch is usually paid for by parents, with free or reduced-price meals for lower-income families. Some states now offer free meals to all students.
- Sports and clubs matter a great deal, and high school football can be a community event. See our page on American sports.
- Safety drills, including lockdown drills, are routine in many schools.
- Parents are expected to take part, through conferences, volunteering and parent-teacher groups.
How Schools Are Funded
Public schools get most of their money from state and local sources, in roughly equal measure, with local property taxes as the largest local source. In 2017-18, for example, about 47% of revenue came from states, 45% from local sources and 8% from the federal government. Federal money has generally stayed under 10% of the total.
Since wealthy areas can raise more from property taxes, gaps between neighboring districts can be wide, although state funding formulas offset part of the difference. That is why families often pick a home by school district, and why good districts push up housing costs. Most students attend their assigned school based on their address, so check the boundary for a specific home before you sign anything.
Types of Schools
| Type | Run by | Cost to families | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public (neighborhood) | School district | Free | By address |
| Magnet | School district | Free | By application, lottery or test |
| Charter | Independent operator with public funds | Free | Open, with a lottery if oversubscribed |
| Private | Independent or religious body | Tuition, from modest to very high | Selective |
| Homeschool | Parents | Family's own costs | Notice or rules vary by state |
The large majority of US children attend public schools. A growing number of states also offer vouchers or education savings accounts that help pay private school costs, and this is an active political debate.
Curriculum: Who Decides?
The federal government does not set what schools teach. The Department of Education handles funding, civil rights and data, and since 2025 the administration has been moving many of its programs to other agencies, a process still contested in court and in Congress. In any case, curriculum remains a state and local matter under the division of powers between states and the federal government.
The Common Core standards in math and English, launched around 2010, were adopted by most states, but a number have since revised or dropped them. Debates about textbooks and how to teach history often play out at school board level.
Grades, Diplomas and College
Most schools use letter grades (A, B, C, D, F), which turn into a GPA (grade point average), usually on a 4.0 scale. A transcript records every course and grade from high school. Students earn a diploma by completing required credits and any state requirements; there is no single national exam like a baccalaureate or A-levels.
Strong students can take Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate courses, which may earn college credit. For admission, colleges look at the transcript, activities, essays, recommendations and often the SAT or ACT. Many colleges remain test-optional, but several selective ones have brought back testing requirements, so check each college's policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does K-12 mean?
It stands for kindergarten through 12th grade, the 13 years of primary and secondary school that most US students complete.
Is public school free for foreigners?
Children who live in a school district can attend its public schools free, whatever their immigration status. The main exception is students on F-1 visas, who must pay for up to 12 months at a public high school and cannot attend public elementary or middle schools.
What grade is a 10-year-old in?
Usually 4th or 5th grade, depending on their birthday and the local cutoff date. Children arriving from abroad are generally placed by age, and schools may review their records.
Why do US schools vary so much?
States set the rules, districts run the schools, and local property taxes pay a large part of the bill. That leads to different funding and results from one district to the next.
Is the SAT required to graduate?
Generally no. It is a college admission test, and not a diploma requirement, though some states give the SAT or ACT to all public school juniors. Colleges decide whether they require it.
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