What Every Immigrant Needs to Know
78–81
Education System 78) Levels of School
Three- to five- year old children are considered pre-school age. Children usually start kindergarten in August or September of the year they have their 5th birthday. Elementary school is kindergarten through 5th or 6th grade. Middle school or junior high is usually 6th through 8th grade. High school is 9th through 12th grade. Adults who do not have a high school diploma can take an equivalency exam such as the GED, HiSET, or TASC. Different states accept different exams. These are often accepted like a high school diploma.
79) Curriculum & English as a Second Language (ESL)
In elementary schools all students usually take the same classes. In middle school and high school, students usually have options for classes. Discuss the options with your children and show interest in their classes. All public schools have to provide ESL classes. Schools test children for English proficiency and give them a level for their ESL classes.
(80 & 81) Report Card with GPA example
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80) Report Cards
Report cards use grades in the form of letters or numbers to show how well a student is doing in school. Report cards are distributed two to four times a year. Some schools give report cards directly to students, some mail them to parents, and some put report cards on the Internet. You may have to sign to confirm that you received the report card. Talk to your children about their grades. Congratulate them when they get good grades. Talk to someone at school if you have questions.
81) Grade Point Average (GPA)
Middle school, high school, and college students receive grades lettered “A” through “E” or “F”. “A” is the highest grade and “E” or “F” is a failing grade. Each student has a grade point average (GPA). The GPA is a summary of a student’s grades. Each letter grade has a value shown here: A = 4 points C = 2 E=0 B=3 D = 1 F=0 4.0 is a perfect GPA, but some high schools offer honors and AP classes. In these classes an “A” is equal to more than four points. A high GPA can help students get into good colleges and get good jobs.
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