Types of Schools: Public -Private & Other Options in the U.S.

Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with  Jennifer. Back in 2013, I shared a lesson  

on the U.S system of education. If you haven't  seen it or if you forgot how the system works,  

take some time to watch. Why? First, the older  lesson will help you understand who goes where  

and when, from preschool all the way through  grad school. Second, it's interesting to compare  

educational systems. The one you went through  may be different. Third, if you're talking to  

Americans and you hear references to middle school  or college, you'll understand what people mean.

Let me give you a super quick overview of  the U.S system of education. Preschool is  

for kids around the age of three or four.  We go to kindergarten at the age of five.  

First through twelfth grade breaks down into  elementary school, middle school, and high school.  

High school -- that's the last four years. We call  those the freshman year, sophomore year, junior  

year, and senior year. Those names repeat again in  college. Americans go to college for four years:  

freshman, sophomore, junior. and senior. After  college, you have the option to go to grad school  

and get a master's or a PhD. Of course, there are  also options for medical school and law school.  

But there's something I didn't cover in that  earlier lesson. I didn't explain all the choices  

that Americans have in terms of schooling, so  in this video, I'd like to tell you about the  

types of schools in the U.S. -- at least those  that I'm familiar with. Then you can have a turn  

and tell me in the comments what kinds of schools  exist in your home country. Where did you study?

In the U.S., education is free from kindergarten  through high school, so from about the age of 5 to  

18, you can attend school and finish with a high  school diploma. Preschool is sometimes free, but I  

don't think that every U.S. state has a universal  preschool program for its residents. Let me  

clarify: education is free if you attend a public  school. Public schools receive public funds.  

Local, state, and federal money can support public  schools. Our tax dollars partly go to education.  

When we talk about public schools, we're  referring to elementary and secondary schools.

There are a few different types of public  schools. I'll tell you about four that I know of.  

First, there are regular public schools. These  schools must meet state standards, so there's  

state control over the curriculum, and teachers  must have a license to teach in that state. So,  

there are standards, but there isn't really one  national curriculum that all public schools use.  

Second, there are charter schools. These  are public schools, but they have more  

freedom in how they're run. When my kids were  little, we had a charter school in our town,  

and it was known to be the best elementary school  where we lived, but space was limited. My son won  

a lottery to get in. Then because he attended the  charter school, my daughter was allowed to enroll.  

I liked the teachers and the curriculum at  that charter school. I also liked the parent  

involvement. I was one of several parents who  helped with subjects like reading. This allowed  

students to read in small groups at their skill  level. It seemed that all of us volunteers had  

some experience in education, but I never had to  show my qualifications. A friend of mine sends  

her son to a vocational high school. It's also  a public school, but he had to apply to get in.  

Students can learn a technical skill so that  when they graduate, they can immediately enter  

the workforce. I've also heard of magnet schools,  but they're a little less common. These are public  

schools, but they specialize in a certain area,  like science or the performing arts. Obviously,  

if it's a school of the performing arts, there's  going to be an audition process to get in.

Let's talk about education after high school.  Is college in the U.S. free? No, but we have  

state colleges or state schools, and state  governments help make higher education affordable.  

My son has yet to choose which college  he's going to, but a state school is  

a very promising option because of the  low tuition. Remember that in the U.S.  

"college" refers to post-secondary education. It  refers to four-year colleges and universities.  

If you go to a state school and you're an  in-state resident, you pay a lower tuition.  

If you go to a state school and you're an out  -of-state resident, you pay a higher tuition.

What's the alternative to public education in  general? Private schools. Private schools don't  

use government funds. They use private funds, and  they charge tuition. What kinds are there? A few  

and they range in price. Private schools require  that students pay tuition. If you hear the name  

of a school and it has "academy" in it, you can  pretty much guess that it's a private school.  

The most expensive private schools are boarding  schools, where students live on campus. A private  

boarding school can cost around seventy thousand  dollars a year. If you don't live on campus,  

you're called a "day student," and you may  pay around fifty thousand dollars a year,  

which is still more than most state college  tuitions. And remember we're talking about  

secondary school, not college yet. These  boarding schools are small, competitive,  

and known for academic excellence. They can  also have very competitive sports programs.  

On the other side of the spectrum are parochial  schools. This is a type of private school run by  

a religious group, like a church. If you hear  a name of a school and it has "Saint" in it,  

for example, you can bet that it's  probably run by a local Catholic church.  

Parochial schools are generally affordable, and  they suit families who want religious instruction  

as part of the daily curriculum. In general, we  can talk about religious schools or schools with  

a religious affiliation. There are a good number  of private Christian schools in the U.S., but  

there are also Jewish schools, for example. By the  way, usually the only schools that have a school  

uniform are religious schools. Other schools may  have a dress code, but the strictness can vary.  

Some kids in the U.S. don't attend public or  private school. Do you know where they study?  

At home. Homeschooling in the U.S. seems to be  on the rise. When I was a kid, homeschoolers  

numbered in the thousands. Today there are a  few million of them. You can probably guess a  

few reasons for this trend. Safety. Some families  consider home a safer environment. Control over  

instruction. Some families object to the public  school curriculum or the quality of instruction.  

Religious preferences. Some families want their  children to have a strong religious foundation,  

so they choose to homeschool their children.  

Yet another option is online school. I  personally don't know anyone who's doing this,  

but there is an option for tuition-free online  public school. I believe some families can combine  

homeschooling with online school, but again, I  personally don't know anyone who's doing this.  

So, what do you think? Are you a parent or a  future parent? Where would you want to send your  

kids? Perhaps you're in high school. Are you happy  with where you study? Tell me in the comments.  

Let's see how much you understood and how much  you can remember. We'll finish with a short quiz.

One. What kind of high  school is the most expensive?

A boarding school.

Two. Which schools usually have a uniform?

Religious schools, like a  Catholic or a Christian school.

Three. What kind of college is  the most affordable in the U.S.?

State schools.

Four. Which school offers teachers more freedom,  a regular public school or a charter school?

A charter school.

Five. What school should a student  attend if he or she wants to learn  

a technical skill by the time  they graduate from high school?

A vocational school.

Six. Where is a student most likely able  to specialize in the performing arts,  

a magnet school or parochial school?

A magnet school.

Seven. What do we call it when parents  choose to teach their children at home?

Homeschooling.

Eight. Which schools use  government funds and tax dollars?

Any public school.

Feel free to share your thoughts and your own  school experience in the comments. I'd be curious  

to know what options exist in your country. That's  all for now. Please remember to like and share the  

video. If you haven't subscribed, please do. As  always, thanks for watching and happy studies!

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