Educational Structure in USA

This guide will give you an overall view of how the school system works in the U.S. and will provide you with useful resources. As you will note by the table of contents, you can focus on one or multiple areas. Each section is a repository of relevant information where you can dig deeper into this topic. If you're a first-time visitor to this site, we suggest that you first look at the short introduction. It covers basic information and should give you a sense of other topics you might want to focus on.

Chapters

• 1. Introduction
  This chapter provides a brief description of how education in the United States is organized and funded.
• 2. Overview
  This chapter explains in detail the structure of the United States education system. It also includes short discussions of important topics, like parental involvement and how age is calculated.
• 3. Early Childhood Education
  This chapter explores the many options available for early childhood education and provides a number of websites to help you decide what type of child care/education is best for your family.
• 4. Primary and Secondary Education
  This chapter discusses what subjects your child will study in primary and secondary school. The importance of extracurriculars in the U.S. Education System is also discussed.
• 5. Resources for Choosing a Day Care or Preschool Program
  Once you have decided what type of care/education is best for your young child, this chapter will help you connect with resources for finding such care in Minnesota.
• 6. Resources for In Home Care
  This chapter will help you connect with resources for locating a babysitter or nanny.
• 7. Resources for Finding Playgroups
  This chapter provides a brief description of playgroups and connects you with resources for locating a playgroup in the Twin Cities.
• 8. School Age Child Care
  This chapter discusses before and after school care for children already in primary school, including important factors to consider when choosing a program for your child.
• 9. Resources for Choosing a School
  This chapter looks at the important characteristics and questions to consider when deciding what primary/secondary school your child will attend. It also contains some suggestions for how parents can find out more about the schools they are considering.
• 10. Immunization Requirements
  This chapter lays out the immunizations required for children entering preschool and primary/secondary school in Minnesota.
• 11. High School Curriculum Options
  This chapter looks that the different curriculum options for your high school student, including advanced placement (AP) classes and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
• 12. Gifted and Talented
  This chapter discusses many of the options available for gifted and talented students in Minnesota, including programs...