From our Free-Lance Correspondent

You will find that there are variations in this structure from state to state and, sometimes, school system to school system within a state. For more precise information, you should contact the department of education in the school district to which you are moving. If you are unsure of the school district, the Chamber of Commerce or the state department of education should direct you so that you can enroll your children in public school. If you are considering a private education for your children, visit the schools and learn all that you can about them.

In the United States, an education is the right of every child and the duty of every parent. Mandatory age for beginning a child in school may vary between 4 and 7 years. A child may be enrolled in a public school, which is operated through tax revenue of all populates within the district as well as state and federal funding; a parochial school, which is operated by a religious organization or congregation and tuition moneys; a private school, which is run on tuition moneys and, possibly endowments, grants and other contributions; or a home-schooling education which may be provided by the parents or a parental cooperative. For details on home-schooling standards, contact your local school district central office for the state contact.

• Children under age 4 may be enrolled in day care.
• Children age 4 may be either enrolled in day care or in a pre-kindergarten.
• Children ages 4 through 6 may be enrolled in kindergarten.
• Children begin the first grade somewhere between ages 5 and 7. Requirements and regulations vary.
• Kindergarten or the first grade is the beginning of the elementary education.
• Students in 6th grade (about age 12) may either be in the final year of elementary school, or are entering the first year of middle school. This is the beginning of the secondary education. Some systems use middle schools (grades 6, 7, & 8), while others use junior high schools (grades 7, 8, & sometimes 9).
• Ninth grade is the freshman year of high school.
• Tenth grade is the sophomore year of high school.
• Eleventh grade is the junior year of high school.
• Twelfth grade is the senior year of high school. During the fall of this year one should begin making applications to colleges, if that is a goal.
• Satisfactory completion of all requirements ends in commencement or graduation from high school and a diploma.

Note : Age in the U.S. is figured thus; age one is the first anniversary after birth, age two is the second anniversary after birth, etc. So one born in 1958 would have become 40 years old on his/her birthday in 1998.