for curiosity. It can be a tremendously beneficial trait.
The basic structure of education in the United States is similar to France's, but there are some notable differences.
Preschool:
It can encompass a wide age range from 15 months up to age six, but is most common for children ages 2 to 5. A special year of preparation prior to kindergarten is often called Pre-K, and is usually for kids who are 4 or 5, depending on when their birthday falls during the calendar year. Preschool differs from daycare in that it offers more structured education specifically designed for that age group, and to prepare them for entering school.
Though many educators and pediatricians view preschool as integral, it's not free for all children in the majority of areas and can be financially unfeasible for some families. It's not compulsory. There is a federally funded Pre-K program called Head Start that is free, but from my understanding there are limited spaces available for it and it's not offered throughout the country. Many families do see the value of a quality preschool that can instill valuable social and learning skills, but the tuition can be quite steep. Some will try to provide some of the same educational benefit at home and with small groups they form with neighbors. Churches, synagogues, and other religious-based organizations often offer more affordable preschools, and many are open to the general public rather than exclusively for families who attend that congregation. I went to preschool when we lived in Germany, and to find one with a comparable level of education for my sisters my parents had to shell out quite a bit in tuition.
Elementary school: Generally comprises ages 5 / 6 to 10 /11
I believe mandatory education begins at age six. The birthdate cutoffs for entering kindergarten or first grade vary state-to-state and from public and private schools, but most commonly it's September 1. Many schools have now lowered it to August 1. This means that if the child's 5th birthday is after September 1 (or whatever the cutoff date might be) he or she will have to wait until the following year to begin school. Some are very rigid about enforcing the birthdate cutoffs, and some offer considerable flexibility.
Kindergarten: Ages 5-6
1st grade: 6-7
2nd grade: 7-8
3rd grade: 8-9
4th grade: 9-10
5th grade: 10-11
Middle school (also known as Junior High sometimes):
6th grade: 11-12
7th grade: 12-13
8th grade: 13-14
High school:
9th grade - Also known as freshman year: 13-14
10th grade - Also known as sophomore year: 14-15
11th grade - Also known as junior year: 16-17
12th grade - Also known as senior year: 17-18
Many larger public schools do offer a diversity of classes and a range of difficulty, so students can begin to tailor their education a bit more according to their interests and aptitude. Still, it tends to be broader and more general in nature rather than specifically as preparation for certain university studies and vocations. There are magnet schools that are for certain interests such as STEM or the Arts, but they are generally only in larger cities.
The overwhelming majority of American kids go to public schools, but approximately 10% go to private schools and a smaller number are homeschooled. The different types of schools are: public (free for children living in the school's district), parochial (religious school that generally charges a tuition, but one that is often lower than independent private school), independent private schools (not affiliated with any religion; fee-charging; the cost can range from $10,000 a year to $45,000 a year for elite schools in major cities), charter and magnet schools (public schools that have specialized education). There are also coed and single-gender private and parochial schools. There are a few single-gender public charter schools. Sometimes a private school that is for pre-school through grades 6 will be called a primary school, and a school that is for grades 6 or 7 through 12 is a secondary school.
Most kids graduate from high school at age 18, though some are younger and some are a little older. After high school most will go on to college, though some will choose a vocational school or simply begin to work instead.
The words college and university are often used interchangeably, but there's actually a distinction between the two. A college is for undergraduate education, whereas a university is one that includes undergraduate and graduate education. There are public universities that provide reduced tuition for residents of the state they are located in because of the funding that is received from taxpayers in the state. It's still very expensive in comparison to comparable universities in other countries. Many students will attend community colleges for their freshman and sophomore (first two years) that are significantly less expensive, and then will transfer to a four-year university. Liberal art colleges are usually private four-year private schools that only offer undergraduate education, and perhaps a few graduate programs. Private universities usually offer undergraduate and graduate education, and charge the same tuition fees for all students rather than having different fees for in-state and out-of-state students.
Hope this is helpful and hasn't fatigued your eyes, haha. I'm a speed typer.