1. THE UNITED STATES SCHOOL SYSTEM PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY SCHOOLS

2. PARENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO: Identify the organization of the US school system. Identify the organization of Prince William County Schools. Identify the ages that students start school in PWCS. Identify the start, end dates, vacation, and holidays. Describe similarities and differences between the US and the schools in your country.

3. Private Education: Not free Parents must pay for their children to attend. Smaller class sizes Can live outside the school area. Public Education: Free Property taxes pay for the schools. Larger class sizes Must live within county or district. TWO TYPES OF SCHOOLS

4. Preschool * Also called nursery schools. * Children begin between 3 and 4 years old. * Children learn to listen to the teacher and socialize with other children. Kindergarten Children begin at 5 years old. Classes are half or full day Are not required to attend by law. Children learn how to play together as well as letters and numbers. PRIMARY GRADES

5. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Must attend school when they turn 6. School is around 7 hours a day. Students stay with the same teacher all day. Grades 1 through 5. In Prince William County

6. MIDDLE SCHOOLS All children must attend middle school. “junior high school” Students have 6, 7, or 8 classes during the day. Grades 6, 7, and 8. In Prince William County

7. HIGH SCHOOL All students must attend high school until they are 16 years old (10 th grade). Students should stay in high school until they are 18 years old (12th grade). School prepares students for vocational or trade school as well as college and the military.

8. College or university Costs money Financial aid available Join the military Learn a trade Join the workforce AFTER HIGH SCHOOL…

9. school year vacation public school tuition property taxes private school school district attend school Preschool Kindergarten grades elementary school middle school high school VOCABULARY ACTIVITY #1

10. drop out graduate diploma community college university VOCABULARY ACTIVITY #1 CONTINUED…

11. COMPREHENSION CHECK: TRUE OR FALSE ? 1.The school year in the United States starts in late August or early September and ends in early June. 2.Summer vacations are usually about three months long. 3.Property taxes help pay for public schools in the United States. 4.All children go to preschool in the United States. 5.All children who are 5 years old go to kindergarten in the United States.

12. TRUE OR FALSE… ? 6.All children go to first grade in the United States. 7.Elementary schools usually have kindergartens and grades 1 to 12. 8.Children in the United States go to public school on Saturday. 9.In middle school, children usually have only one classroom teacher. 10. High schools usually have grades 9 to 12.

13. TRUE OR FALSE…? 11. Children always graduate from high school. 12. All children in the United States must go to school from ages 6 to age 16. 13. It is not important for children to attend school every day. 14. Community colleges and universities are free in the United States.