The educational system is called system "6-3-3 Plan": six years elementary school from the age of six, three years Junior High school, from twelve to fifteen, and three years Senior High school, from fifteen to eighteen.
Pre-school education includes nursery schools and kindergarten, which are up to the age five or six. Most of them are private. Compulsory education begins at the age of six. Both the elementary and secondary education are comprehensive, there is no selection of children. Years in USA are called grades.
6-3-3 Plan course is free of charge. This course is finished by high-school diploma called "The American High-school Diploma". This is given to students who complete their course with satisfactory credits, those marks are given for attendance and marks given for a quality of work. Most students study four or fives subjects, there is a very wide choice. Some subjects are compulsory. It is more difficult to get in to university in Britain than in the USA. This is because there are fewer university places in Britain. About one third of high-school graduates go on for some higher education. Higher education - universities, the technical training institutions. The courses last from six months to four years and students get technical skills. There are two-year Community Colleges, from them students may enter many professions or go no in four-year colleges. Students can get Bachelor's Degree (B.A., B.Sc.) after four years, Some universities and post-graduate colleges also awarded Master's Degrees and Doctoral Degrees. The most famous universities: Harvard, Yale University, Princeton University, College of Colombia, etc. The cost of university studies is high and it is paid by private savings, income from a part time job held by students, loans or grants.