Editing Education in the United States (section)

==K–12 education==
{{Main|K–12 education in the United States}}

The U.S. is governed by federal, state, and local education policy. Education is compulsory for all children, but the age at which one can discontinue schooling varies by state and is from 14 to 18 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d08/tables/dt08_165.asp|title=Age range for compulsory school attendance and special education services, and policies on year-round schools and kindergarten programs|publisher=Nces.ed.gov|access-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref>

Free public education is typically provided from Kindergarten (ages 5 and 6) to 12th Grade (ages 17 and 18). Around 85% of students enter public schooling while the remainder are educated through homeschooling or privately funded schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.jsp?_pageId=tp5_education|title=Education. United States Census (2000)|publisher=Factfinder.census.gov|access-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090403044956/http://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.jsp?_pageId=tp5_education|archive-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref>

Schooling is divided into primary education, called elementary school, and secondary education. Secondary education consists of two "phases" in most areas, which includes a [[Middle school#United States|middle/junior high school]] and [[High school in the United States|high school]].