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High school, or secondary school, is the last segment of compulsory education in Hong Kong, United States, Australia, Canada, China, Korea and Japan. It provides a secondary education.1 Hong Kong
Secondary education in Hong Kong is largely based on the British schooling system. High school starts on the 7th year of formal education, after Primary Six, called Form One. Students normally spend five years in secondary schools, of which the first three years (Forms One to Three) are free and compulsory like primary education. Forms Four and Five students prepare for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination ( HKCEE ), which takes place after Form Five. Students obtaining a satisfactory grade will be promoted to Lower Six, who then prepare for the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination ( HKALE ) ( colloquially the A-levels), which is to be taken after Upper Six. The HKALE and HKCEE results will be considered by universities for admission. Some secondary schools in Hong Kong are called "colleges". In some schools, Lower and Upper Six are also called Form Six and Form Seven.
The HKCEE and HKALE is equivalent to the GCE O-level (or GCSE) and the GCE A-level respectively.
As of Oct 2004, there has been heated discussion on proposed changes in the education system, which includes (amongst others) reduction of the duration of secondary education from seven years to six years, and merge the two exams HKCEE and HKALE into one exam. The proposed changes will be in effect within the next few years.
2 United States
In the United States, high school generally consists of grades 9, 10, 11 and 12, though this may vary slightly by school district. In some areas, high school starts with tenth grade; a few American high schools still cover grades 7 through 12. American studentsAlternate uses: Student (disambiguation Etymologically derived from study a student is one who studies. Also known as a disciple in the sense of a religious area of study, and/or in the sense of a "discipline" of learning. In widest use, student is used t are allowed to leave high school at age 16-18, depending on the state, graduation, acceptance into higher education, or other education settings. This school-leaving age is usually in grade 10 or 11 if the standard curriculumIn education, a curriculum (plural curricula is the set of courses and their contents offerred by an institution such as a school or university. In some cases, a curriculum may be partially or entirely determined by an external body (such as the National has been followed throughout life, without skipping grades or being held back. Thus, the last two years of high school are not compulsory, but most students complete high school and receive a diploma. A high school diploma or G.E.D. is generally required for entrance into a collegeA college ( Latin collegium can be the name of any group of colleagues; originally it meant a group of people living together under a common set of rules con "together" + leg "law"). As a consequence members of colleges were originally styled " fellow" an or universityA university is an institution of higher education and of research, which grants academic degrees. A university provides both tertiary and quaternary education. University is derived from the Latin universitas meaning corporation since the first medieval, but many colleges accept a small number of students after eleventh grade.
As a practical matter, while U.S. law mandates school attendance at least until graduation or age 16, enforcement of the truancyTruancy is unexcused absence from compulsory schooling. Beyond the effect missed schooling may have on the student's academic record, chronic truancy can indicate problems with the student, the education system, or both. Truancy is commonly associated wit law is sporadic. Conversely, students who have failed a grade may remain in high school past the age of 18, if they have not graduated on time.
3 Canada
Secondary schooling in Canada differs depending on what province one resides in. Normally it follows the American pattern, however in QuebecQuebec ( In Detail) ( In Detail) National Motto: Je me souviens (I remember CapitalLargest city Quebec City Montreal Area Total % fresh water 2nd largest(1st lgst prov. 1 542 056 kmē 11,5% Population Total (2004) Density Ranked 2nd 7 509 928 5,43/kmē Admi, for instance, high school lasts five years and is started earlier and finished at a younger age than elsewhere in Canada. In Quebec most students follow high school by attending a cegepCEGEP College d'enseignement general et professionnel College of General and Vocational Education, pronounced se-jep [fr/en] or see-jip [en]) is a type of educational institution in Quebec. Students in the university stream, finishing secondary school aft, which is comparable to a junior college, and which is obligatory for Quebec students wishing to go on to university in Quebec.
