A school is an educational establishment designed primarily to offer learning centers and learning spaces for children under the guidance of qualified teachers. Most states have systems of public elementary education, which may be mandatory. In these systems, children progress through a sequence of elementary schools. A school system also includes grade schools and secondary schools, as well as vocational or technical schools, for both children who are physically developed enough to attend school and those who require a more gentle introduction. Some states allow parents to home school their children.
Most children live in a community with an adequate school system before entering into kindergarten, primary, middle school, or high school. The schools that these children attend depend on the academic needs of the individual child, as well as the special needs and desires of the child’s family. A child who will enter kindergarten ready to learn can be successful in traditional public or private elementary schools; however, some students need more specialized training or the guidance of experienced teachers in order to succeed in this highly competitive environment. The schools that secondary school children attend depend largely on the requirements of the students’ families. The most popular grades attained by students in junior and senior high school are A’s, B’s, C’s, and D’s.
In the United States, there are many publicly funded schools that provide a formal education to children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Many of the public elementary schools are funded through the United States Department of Education. In addition, most colleges and universities have various programs for young children who are enrolled in the elementary school system. Private institutions such as day care centers, preschools, and private schools are other options available for formally educated children.