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- Upper Secondary
Education
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UPPER-SECONDARY EDUCATION
- Age of Admission:
14 or 15 years of age
Length:
Generally four years
Programme of Study:
No nationally regulated curriculum exists. All laws and policies are set by the individual state governments and school districts.
Assessment and Promotion:
Upon successful completion of the upper secondary level, students receive the High School Diploma. Students who have obtained a high school diploma have generally completed three to four units in English, two to three in mathematics, three to four in social studies, one in the arts, and one or two in physical education. The remainder of the units is determined by the particular stream the student has chosen to follow.
There are generally three streams that exist at the upper secondary level, these are: vocational and technical, general academic and university preparatory. The vocational and technical stream prepares students for direct entry into the workforce or to continue further study at the technical level. The general academic stream prepares students for further study into university or colleges.
Many secondary schools offer specialized programs to help prepare students for the demands of university study. These include:
Advanced Placement (AP) Programs
The AP Program is offered at most high schools in the U.S. Advanced Placement Tests, which are administered by the College Board, were created to allow students the opportunity to gain advanced credit or standing in their university studies. AP tests are standardized national tests that may be written following rigorous university preparatory courses that are taught at high schools. Acceptance of the credits by universities for either placement or advanced standing credit depends on the grades achieved on the test and the university's admission policy.
Honours Programs
Students may have the option to take honours courses at their high school. The curricula are developed at either the school, or school board, level and are designed to provide a more rigorous preparation for higher education. These courses are also indicated on the high school transcript.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
The IB Program is an international qualification based on the leading education systems around the world and is currently offered at 387 schools in the U.S. During the final two years of high school, students follow a standardized curriculum and are assessed through examinations and assignments. In addition to their course work, each student must write a 4,000 word essay on a topic of their choice. This essay is marked by a network of specially trained assessors.
The program is most often structured using Carnegie Units. Each unit represents one hour of study five days a week for thirty-six weeks. To earn a High School Diploma, each student must earn sixteen to eighteen Carnegie Units (depending on the school board) and maintain a D average.
Assessment is carried out on a continuous basis and there are typically no exit examinations. It should also be noted that grades do vary from school board to school board.
Grading Scale:
The following is a typical scale used at the upper secondary school level:
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Letter
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Description |
WES |
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A + / A
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Excellent
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A
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A-
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A-
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B+
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B+
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B
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Good
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B
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B-
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B-
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C+
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C+
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C
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Average
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C
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D
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Pass
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D
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F
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Fail
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F
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Revised: May 06, 2004
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Copyright © 2003 World Education Services.
All rights reserved.
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