Education in the United States of America 

is provided
in public, private, and home schools.
By state law, education is compulsory over an age range
starting between five and eight and ending somewhere
between ages sixteen and eighteen, depending on the
state. This requirement can be satisfied in public schools,
state-certified private schools, or an approved home school
program.

In most schools, compulsory education is divided into three

levels: elementary school, middle or junior high school, and high
school. Children are usually divided by age groups into grades,
ranging from kindergarten (5 to 6-year-olds) and first grade (6 to 7-
year-olds) for the youngest children, up to twelfth grade (17 to 18-
year-olds) as the final year of high school.There is considerable
variability in the exact arrangement of grades, as the following table
indicates. Note that many people may not choose to attain higher
education immediately after high school graduation, so the age of
completing each level of education may vary. This table shows the
traditional education path of a student completing an undergraduate
degree immediately after high school.
The American education system offers a rich field of choices for
international students. There is such an array of schools, programs and
locations that the choices may overwhelm students, even those from the
U.S. As you begin your school search, it’s important to familiarize yourself
with the American education system. Understanding the system will help
you narrow your choices and develop your education plan. The COVID-
19 pandemic in 2020 forced schools to implement technology to transition to
virtual meetings.[53][54] Although the use of technology improves the grading
process and the quality of information received, [55] there is concern that online-
only education disadvantages students without internet access, who
disproportionately live in poor households, and that technology may make it
harder for students to pay attention.[56]