School age & years in America?

[babybelle]

How do schools work in the states? I am interested because my brother is moving to Albany, NY shortly and we hope to do the same in about 2-3 years time. I would like to know where our children would fit in terms of prior schooling, age etc..

In Scotland) children in their pre-school year are all entitled to a 'free' place in a nursery/kindergarten. This can be state or privately provided.

Formal schooling starts age 4.5 - 5.5 with kids entering Primary 1 each August

(age thing works like this, if a child has its fifth brithday between March 1st and February 28th 2002 then they will start school in the August that falls in between)

they remain in 'Primary' for seven years and then move to S1 in a High/Secondary school aged between 11 & 12 and progress to S2, S3 etc each August.

In S3 pupils take around 8 elective subjects, Maths and English are compulsory, based on what they hope to do in the future.

The first formal examinations are in S4 and are called 'Standard Grades'. If someone is 16 they can leave at this point and standard grades will (normally) get someone a junior admin position, an apprenticeship with a trade or (in some instances) a college place.

They can then stay on for S5 choosing to do Intermediate Level Quals or 'Highers'. Someone with 2 Highers will get a college place and someone with about 3-4 Highers would probably get a University place.

The final year someone can stay at school for is S6 where they will either do (more) Highers or further Intermediate courses, Advanced Highers or even some vocational qualifications.

Degrees in Uni's normally last 3 years for ordinary or 4 for honours. Those who have gone to college and done well gaining a college diploma can get direct entry to 3rd year of a degree program.

 

[PamOKW]

The specifics of ages when children start school and whether they have to meet certain state requirements for graduation from high school vary from state to state and even from town to town. The way the different grades are categorized can also vary.

Basically, children are 6 or 7 when they start public kindergarten. Some school systems offer "free" pre-school but most do not. Grades K-6 are elementary school. 7-8 are junior high or middle school and 9-12 are high school. There is some fluctuation in the break points. Some middle schools are 6-8 or 7-9 etc. Completion of secondary education is graduation from 12th grade. Students are usually 17-19 years old at that time.

The terms college and university are basically interchangeable here. There are, however, some colleges that are 2 years and you graduate with an associate's degree. To get a bachelor's degree you complete a 4-year program. (Here, there can be differences as well with some school's having work study programs that take 5 years and some students getting college credit in high school that will let them finish college in 3 years). There is no guaranteed system of admittance. A combination of standardized test scores, high school grades, community service, sports achievements, etc. are all considered when applying to college/university.


Maybe someone can give more specifics about the ages in different grades for students in NY State, especially the Albany area. I hope your brother is prepared for snow and cold in the winter. Albany really gets hit with winter. A trip to Orlando can help break up the cold.

While you or your brother may not actually live in Albany, but a surrounding town with it's own school system, I thought you might like to look at the web site for the Albany schools.

Albany NY Schools

 

[babybelle]

The company have just started another project in Burlington, Vermont. (Brother is there right now looking at the project)
We are hoping by the time we go something has cropped up a little (sorry, lot) further south

The 'nursery' system here also allows kids who are 3-4 years old to qualify for a free place. This (as with the pre-school place) allows the child 5 x 2.5 hours sessions per week in a state or private nursery.

My kids are in private daycare but the grant amounts to about £30 per week off the bill (for my 4 year old) and will increase to around £60 per week when DD turns 3 in December.

The nursery, if private, has to work in partnership with the local authority and must also have qualified teacher input to its curriculum.

I think we are really lucky to have this but I do think our kids enter school really young. That being said parents do have the option to defer entry for a year if they wish to do so.

 

[CarolG]

In Georgia, children who've turned 5 by the cut-off date (mid August maybe?) start public kindergarten. The state also pays for pre-K for 4-year-olds.

In high school, students can work towards either a college prepartory diploma or a vocational diploma.

The college prep program requires more math, English, science, language, etc. Seniors (12th grade) can take some classes at a local college and earn both high scholl and college credits.

The vocational program often allows students who don't plan to attend college to work part-time in the afternoons with approved businesses.

Here's a link to the Albany NY Board of Education site.

 

[browneyes]

Carol, the cut off date in Georgia is if they turn 5 before September 1. If they are born on September 1, they have to wait a year before they can start.

As far as high school students go, they can go to nearby vocational/technical colleges and earn credit towards their high school diploma and also college credits when they're 16.

Babybelle, daycare is a lot higher here, also. It costs atleast $75/week per child in my area. Part time is around $45/week. They charge more for infants or toddlers with diapers.

 

[PamOKW]

LOL! Babybelle, if there's someplace that gets colder than Albany it's probably Burlington! But, Burlington is a fabulous city/town. Just beautiful along Lake Champlain and the surrounding towns are lovely places to live. If he has a choice, I'd go with Burlington in a heartbeat over Albany.

The school system will have different quirks in Vermont as well. In some of the suburbs they combine towns for the high school grades into regional schools. Some of these towns are growing so quickly now, that they are debating what to do. Enlarge the regional high school or build their own.

I'm not sure whether NY or VT offer any pre-school programs for 3-4 year olds. You would, however, be able to deduct some child care expenses from your federal income taxes.

 

[babybelle]

Originally posted by browneyes


Babybelle, daycare is a lot higher here, also. It costs atleast $75/week per child in my area. Part time is around $45/week. They charge more for infants or toddlers with diapers.

LOL - Im sorry did I give the impression that was all it cost - dont I just wish!!!

Full time daycare for my 4 yr old is £100 per week (less £30 credit) and for my 2 year old £99 (because I get 10% discount for having a 2nd child). My kids have just moved day care centre because a) prices of the last one rose to approx £1000 per month and b) the last one was in another local authority area than my own and the 'early intervention' was not as good.
These costs are really reasonable as some charge up to £135 per week per child.

You pay regardless of holidays (ie 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year) and a little extra for meals. Some do not even provide diapers,wipes or creams for that kind of money.

My sons out of school care (1 hour in the morning plus 3 hours after school) costs £40 per week.

Fortunately in the UK their is a top up benefit called Working Family Tax Credit which helps people to get out to work. Even with a joint income of over £35000 some folk will still receive something. We get a little more because we have a disabled child. Without this we could not afford for both of us to work!