High School Education

High school education or secondary school education is the higher level of mandatory education during childhood.  It builds on the foundations of core subjects – math’s, reading, art, social studies (history and geography), science, language arts, and physical education – that are taught in the elementary or primary school level.  It is the final level of education that is required in order for students to either get a job or move up into post-secondary or graduate education at colleges and universities.  In fact, most jobs now demand a graduate certificate or diploma from a high school as a basic qualification for any job.

High school education teaches children from about ages 12 to 18.  However, in some countries, the type of education received may depend on gender, social status, and even location.  In Western countries, high school education is provided to all students, irregardless of their race, creed, social status, culture, gender or beliefs.  However, for example, as was the case in Afghanistan, girls and women were forbidden under the former Taliban regime to have any education, being forced into a life of servitude and forced marriages as second class citizens.

In the first years of high school education, most of the courses taught are based on the primary or elementary core subjects.  Students adapt to having more than teacher, varied ones for different subjects, longer class times, less breaks, and more varied and in depth lessons.  By age 15, students are able to make more choices in what they want to study.  Core subjects are needed to graduate, but students can choose from vocational, academic, trade and professional studies to help them get the qualifications and knowledge base they need for post-graduate/university/college education or the basis they need for a career path they are starting to consider.