Education In The United States Wikipedia

Leo Migdal

-Dec 3, 2025, 3:51 AM

education in the united states wikipedia

The United States does not have a national or federal educational system. Although there are more than fifty independent systems of education (one run by each state and territory, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools), there are a number of... Education is provided in public and private schools and by individuals through homeschooling. Educational standards are set at the state or territory level by the supervising organization, usually a board of regents, state department of education, state colleges, or a combination of systems. The bulk of the $1.3 trillion in funding comes from state and local governments, with federal funding accounting for about $250 billion in 2024[9] compared to around $200 billion in past years.[2] During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, most schools in the United States did not mandate regular attendance.

In many areas, students attended school for no more than three to four months out of the year.[10] By state law, education is compulsory over an age range starting between five and eight and... Compulsory education is divided into three levels: elementary school, middle or junior high school, and high school. As of 2013, about 87% of school-age children attended state-funded public schools, about 10% attended tuition and foundation-funded private schools,[12] and roughly 3% were home-schooled.[13] Enrollment in public kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools... Numerous publicly and privately administered colleges and universities offer a wide variety of post-secondary education. Post-secondary education is divided into college, as the first tertiary degree, and graduate school. Higher education includes public and private research universities, usually private liberal arts colleges, community colleges, for-profit colleges, and many other kinds and combinations of institutions.

College enrollment rates in the United States have increased over the long term.[15] At the same time, student loan debt has also risen to $1.5 trillion. The large majority of the world's top universities, as listed by various ranking organizations, are in the United States, including 19 of the top 25, and the most prestigious – Harvard University.[16][17][18][19] Enrollment in... Total expenditures for American public elementary and secondary schools amounted to $927 billion in 2020–21 (in constant 2021–22 dollars).[21] In 2010, the United States had a higher combined per-pupil spending for primary, secondary, and... education sector consumed a greater percentage of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) than the average OECD country.[22] In 2014, the country spent 6.2% of its GDP on all levels of education—1.0 percentage points above the OECD average of 5.2%.[23] In 2014, the... education as 14th best in the world.

The Programme for International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of American 15-year-olds as 19th in the world in reading literacy, mathematics, and science with the average... New England encouraged its towns to support free public schools funded by taxation. In the early 19th century, Massachusetts took the lead in education reform and public education with programs designed by Horace Mann that were widely emulated across the North. Teachers were specially trained in normal schools and taught the three Rs (reading, writing, and arithmetic) and also history and geography. Public education was at the elementary level in most places. The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980.

The department began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services... The Department of Education is administered by the United States secretary of education. In 2021 it had more than 4,000 employees – the smallest staff of the Cabinet agencies[7] – and a 2024 budget of $268 billion, up from $14 billion when it was established in 1979. In 2025, the department's budget was about four percent of the total US federal spending.[8] During Donald Trump's second term, the Department of Government Efficiency announced it would shrink the Department of Education's workforce by half,[9][10] and Trump signed an executive order on March 20 aimed at closing the... The department identifies four key functions:[18]

The Department of Education is a member of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness[19] and works with federal partners to ensure proper education for homeless and runaway youth in the United States. The history of education in the United States covers the trends in formal education in America from the 17th century to the early 21st century. Schooling was a high priority in Puritan New England, which set up strong systems, especially in the colonial-era Province of Massachusetts Bay. It was a lower priority elsewhere, with many short-lived small local private academies and some schools for pauper children.[1] By 1775 Americans were among the most literate people in the world. They kept posted on political events and ideas thanks to 35 weekly newspapers in the 13 colonies, with 40,000 subscribers.[2]

The Puritans in the New England colonies strongly supported education. The aim of Puritan instruction was for children to be able to read and interpret the Bible for themselves without the need for the exegesis and interpretation of clergy.[3] The first American schools in the Thirteen Colonies opened in the 17th century. The first public schools in America were established by the Puritans in New England during the 17th century. Boston Latin School was founded in 1635.[4] Boston Latin School was not funded by tax dollars in its early days, however. On January 1, 1644, by unanimous vote, Dedham, Massachusetts authorized the first U.S.

taxpayer-funded public school; "the seed of American education."[5] The educational attainment of the U.S. population refers to the highest level of education completed.[2] The educational attainment of the U.S. population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education and a rising number of college graduates that outnumber high school dropouts. As a whole, the population of the United States is spending more years in formal educational programs. As with income, levels differ by race, age, household configuration, and geography.[3]

Information on educational attainment of the U.S. population has been collected in every decennial census since 1940.[4] At a national level, reports show rates of educational attainment by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Differing at the regional and state levels, educational attainment data are shown by sex, race, and Hispanic origin (not age).[4] Overall, the demographics with the highest educational attainment in the United States are also those with the highest household income and wealth.[3] In 2018, nearly 9/10 (90 percent) of all adults 25 years or older reported they had completed at least high school, or obtained a GED/high school equivalency certificate. Over one in three adults (35 percent) had attained at least a bachelor's degree.

Both of these measures are all time highs. In 2003, the percentage of the adult population who had completed high school or had not completed high school but obtained a GED increased for the first time since 2000, when it was 84... This increase follows a general trend that the Current Population Survey has shown since educational attainment was first measured in 1947.[3] Since 1983, the percentage of people either graduating from high school or failing to complete high school but getting a GED certification has increased from 85% to 90%. The greatest increases in educational attainment were documented in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. In the 1950s and much of the 1960s high school graduates constituted about 50% of those considered adults (25 and above).

For adults aged between 25 and 30, the percentage of either high school graduates or GED obtainers was roughly 50% in 1950 versus 90% today.[3] Education in the United States is provided by the public sector. The federal, state and local governments control and give funds to help local schools. Public education is available everywhere in the United States. School's curriculum, funds, teaching, employment and other policies are created by the elected school boards. There are also private schools, which cost money to attend.

School districts are sometimes different from other local jurisdictions. They have their own officials and budgets. Education standards and state tests are created by the state governments. Since child education is required by law, ages to start school are different from each state. Children usually start school between the ages of five to six.[1] They usually end their education when they are between the ages of seventeen and eighteen. Education requirements can be done by educating children in public schools, private schools (who is known by the government to be trusted) or a home school program.

In most public schools, education is divided into three levels. The first level is elementary school. Grades in elementary school are different in each state. The second level is middle school. Grades in middle school are different in each state as well. The last level is high school.

In some states, middle school is called "junior high school". Grades in high school are also different in each state. After a child has completed their senior year (12th grade), they will earn a high school diploma.[2] If a child would like to continue on with their education or want to start a career, they can apply for college. After four years at a university or college, they will earn a bachelor's degree in one subject. Students can also choose to attend a two-year community college.

Some two-year community colleges are called "Junior colleges". Colleges are not required and are not forced by local laws. Students must pay to attend college, but the price is lowered if they get a scholarship. After college, the now adult can earn a number of certificates for a career. Graduate school is another option after college. A student can earn a master's degree or Ph.D.

in any subject. They may go to medical school to earn an M.D. and become a physician, law school to earn a J.D. and become a lawyer, or business school to earn an MBA. LawConstitutionBill of RightsSeparation of powers EnforcementDepartment of Justice (DoJ)Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

In the United States, higher education is an optional stage of formal learning following secondary education. It is also referred to as post-secondary education, third-stage, third-level, or tertiary education. It covers stages 5 to 8 on the International ISCED 2011 scale. It is delivered at 3,931 Title IV degree-granting institutions, known as colleges or universities.[1] These may be public or private universities, research universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, or for-profit colleges. U.S. higher education is loosely regulated by the government and by several third-party organizations and is in the process of being even more decentralized.[2][3]

Education In The United States Wikipedia

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