Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Katie. Katie Wonders, “Why are there 12 grades for school?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Katie!
Wake up, Wonder Friends! It's time for school! You don't want to be late. Whether you're in elementary, middle, or high school, it's time to get busy learning.
Most kids, at one time or another, look forward to the day when they'll be done with school and can go on to college or trade school or enter the workforce. When you're a kid, though, your job IS school.
You usually start out in kindergarten around age five. Then you proceed to first grade and, year after year, the numbers keep adding up. Finally, one day, you begin twelfth grade. That means you're a senior in high school and just one year away from graduating.
Have you ever WONDERed about why it is that you have to make your way through 12 grades? If you count kindergarten, that's 13 years of elementary, middle, and high school. Why not 14 years? Or only 10 years?
Public school in the United States has a long and interesting history. Today's students enjoy technology-filled classrooms led by dedicated teachers. It's probably hard for most kids today to imagine that only 150 years ago there were many places across the country without any form of public education.
The settlers in the original 13 colonies placed a high value on education. However, most of them educated their children at home. The Puritans were the first to push for some form of public education, and they began to establish some of the first schools.
Although Thomas Jefferson early on suggested a nationwide educational system funded by tax dollars, his idea did not catch on until nearly a century later. Thanks to an education crusader named Horace Mann, Massachusetts became the first state with compulsory school laws in 1852.
Mann also led the charge to change schools from a one-room schoolhouse that taught all children together to a multilevel format that separated children into separate grades by age. Mann's "age grading" system proved to be very successful and soon became the model for other public school systems around the country.
Thanks to Mann and other education crusaders, public school systems slowly began to develop nationwide. However, it was not until 1918 that all children in the U.S. were required to attend at least elementary school.
Another battle that had to be fought was for equal access to school for all children, regardless of race. In the early 1900s, many schools were segregated by race. It was not until 1954 that the Supreme Court decided the case of Brown v. Board of Education, which finally guaranteed public school access to children of all races.
Up until the second half of the 19th century, elementary education was the primary focus of public school systems. At that time, agriculture was still the driving force of the economy and many people felt that a basic elementary school education was sufficient for children who were needed to work on farms.
As the country began to industrialize, however, higher education began to play a more important role. Children weren't needed as much on farms and were too young to work in factories. Plus, they needed advanced education to prepare them for jobs that were more skilled and technological.
Over time, public school systems settled into the 13-year course of elementary, middle, and high school that we have today. The exact reasons for having kindergarten followed by grades one through 12 are not clearly known.
Most people, however, believe it's a natural result of the child development cycle. Kindergarten begins around age five, which is the age at which most children are able to sit still and listen in order to learn. School continues until grade 12, at which point most children are 18 by the time they graduate. For most purposes, the age of 18 is considered the beginning of adulthood, which is a natural time for young adults to graduate and make their own way in the world.
FAQs
School continues until grade 12, at which point most children are 18 by the time they graduate. For most purposes, the age of 18 is considered the beginning of adulthood, which is a natural time for young adults to graduate and make their own way in the world.
Why are there grades in school? ›
What Purpose Do Grades Serve? Grades are essentially a way to measure or quantify learning and intellectual progress using objective criteria.
Does 13th grade exist? ›
United States. Most jurisdictions in the United States require or offer only twelfth grade as the final year of secondary school. Some school districts in Oregon offer a thirteenth grade. In North Carolina, early college high schools may provide 5 years, providing a grade 13.
How do you pass the 12th grade? ›
Make sure you dedicate enough time to complete college applications, study for exams, and work on major school projects. Additionally, it could be helpful to talk to your teachers or school counselor for advice on managing your workload and staying on top of deadlines.
Does 11th grade exist? ›
Eleventh grade (also known as 11th Grade, Grade 11 or Junior year) is the eleventh year of formal or compulsory education. It is typically the third year of high school (and is the final year in some countries). Students in eleventh grade are usually 16–17 years of age.
Can you be 19 in the 12th grade? ›
United States. The twelfth grade is the twelfth school year after kindergarten. It is also the last year of compulsory secondary education, or high school. Students are often 17–18 years old, and on rarer occasions, can be 19 years old or older.
Is 89 a bad grade? ›
Because mathematically, with a 0-to-100 scale, failing a class is more likely than passing a class. Think about it. Each letter grade is 10 points — an A is 90-100, a B is 80- 89, a C is 70-79, and a D is 60-69 — but the scale's one failing grade, an F, spans not 10 points, but 60 (0 to 59).
Is California getting rid of D and F grades? ›
LOS ANGELES (NewsNation Now) — Bad report cards could soon be a thing of the past in California as some of the state's largest school districts are dropping “D” and “F” grades.
Is 93 an A? ›
What are letter grades and how do they convert into percentages? Common examples of grade conversion are: A+ (97–100), A (93–96), A- (90–92), B+ (87–89), B (83–86), B- (80–82), C+ (77–79), C (73–76), C- (70–72), D+ (67–69), D (65–66), D- (below 65).
Can 7th graders be 13? ›
The seventh grade is typically the first, second or third year of middle school. In the United States, children in seventh grade are usually around 12–13 years old.
Children in sixth grade are typically 11 to 12 years old, while those in eighth grade are 13 and 14. As such, children in Middle School range from 11 to 14 years old.
Does 6th grade exist? ›
A middle school learning environment consists of students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The primary focus of middle school education is developing social, emotional, organizational, and interpersonal skills in students.
Does 12 grades matter? ›
Early applicants: - Junior year grades are THE most important. Sophom*ore and freshman grades are given less of an emphasis. - Although senior year performance won't be considered, the rigor of your senior year will contribute to your admissions decision.
How old is 12 in grade? ›
Overview
| Grade Level Code | Grade Level | Expected Age |
|---|
| 090 | Grade 9 | 14 - 15 |
| 100 | Grade 10 | 15 - 16 |
| 110 | Grade 11 | 16 - 17 |
| 120 | Grade 12 | 17 - 18 |
12 more rowsGrade retention or grade repetition is the process of a student repeating a grade after failing the previous year. In the United States of America, grade retention can be used in kindergarten through to eleventh grade; however, students in high school are usually only retained in the specific failed subject.
Can you be 12 in 6th grade? ›
Typically, students in the sixth grade are around 11-12 years old. Most kids start the school year at 11 and turn 12 by the end of the school year.
Is it normal to be 12 in 7th grade? ›
In the United States, children in seventh grade are usually around 12–13 years old.
Is 12 schools too many? ›
You should consider applying to more than 8 to 12 colleges if you are absolutely set on going to a highly selective college. At top colleges, acceptance rates now drop well into the single digits.
Is 11th or 12th grade more important? ›
Hope this is useful to you. 11th grade is the most important year in terms of academics. This is because it is the last grade where colleges will see a full academic year's performance on your transcript - colleges will only see one semester's worth of senior year grades at most.
