Private schools are quite expensive, there are high tuition fees.

STAGES OF EDUCATION
PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION through nursery schools
kindergartens

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION through Elementary school (1st - 6th grade)

SECONDARY EDUCATION through Junior High school (7th - 9th grade)
Senior High school (10th - 12th grade)

HIGHER EDUCATION through College or University

HIGHER EDUCATION
1) Junior College – provide continuing general education
2) University and College – either publicly controlled or by a state, municipality or district, or they are controlled by private organisation
HARVARD – founded in 1636
YALE – founded in 1701
PRINCETON – founded in the half of 18th century

TYPES OF UNIVERSITIES:
1) state
2) municipal
3) land-grant
4) endowed
5) privately controlled

FACULTY MEMBERS (STAFF)
 full-time faculty consists of professors, associate professors, assistant professors and instructors
 part-time faculty consists of students' admission, administration and organization, studies and degrees, graduate students (have already finished studies), undergraduate students (still students):
Freshmen – 1st grade,
Sophomores – 2nd grade,
Juniors – 3rd grade,
Seniors – 4th grade.

STATISTICS (1993)
 enrolment: 65 mio.: nursery and kindergartens 11%
elementary 47%
secondary 21%
colleges and universities 21%

STATISTICS (1994)
 schools: public 56 mio.
private 8 mio.
 number of foreign students finished in U.S. schools (Africa, Latino America, Europe): 500,000
 average annual college cost for students: public schools 8,500 $
private schools 17,800 $

HELP FROM GOVERNMENT
The U.S. don't have a national system of education. There is a federal department of education. They gather information, give advice, help financially. Education is of a national concern, it's a state responsibility:
50% of funds come from state resources for elementary and secondary schools
43% from local funds
6% from federal government

Colleges and universities own individual standard, graduation requirements, admission, etc., they are free to determine. Local schools are free to choose teaching materials and text books (local and state taxes support), but there are differences in quality of education. It aims for equal opportunity in education regardless of social class, national origin, sex, racial and ethnic group.
Students get marks: A,B,C,D,E (A - D passed, E - didn´t pass).

STANDARDS (CONDITIONS)
A diploma is not a ticket to automatic enter. Standardised exams play a decisive role at almost every level of education. There is admission to colleges or universities.
 2 widely used, nationally administered tests for high students:
SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test (measures verbal and mathematical fields, which are necessary for college work)
ACT – American College Testing Programme (measures skills in English, Maths, social and natural sciences)

Both tests are given specific dates and location throughout U.S., by non-profit, non-governmental organisations. Each year SAT 2 is taken by mio. students that provide national norms. They publish the average scores achieved on tests by the students they admit. Similar testing programmes exist at higher levels as well. Someone who has already finished 4 years and wants to go to higher education for Law or Medical School can take these tests. These tests have been agreed by various law and medical schools and are administered nation-wide at scheduled time. They pay for one test approximately 1,000 – 10,000 $.

HOLIDAYS
 Americas share 3 national holidays:
Easter Sunday (various dates)
Christmas Day (Decem. 25th )
New Year's Day (Jan.1st)
 8 other American holidays:
Thanksgiving Day (Novem.