In the United States, education is primarily the responsibility of each state, not the national government. Each state has its own education system, but state governments give much of their responsibility to local school districts. There are more than 15,000 school districts in the U.S. and hundreds within each state. Because there are so many local school districts, one high school can be very different from another even in neighboring communities.
Below are descriptions of several people who work in the school system:
Principal (sometimes called Head of School): The principal has chief responsibility for running the high school.
Teachers: At most schools, teachers remain in the classroom while students move from class to class.
School Counselor: The School Counselor or your Faculty Advisor will help you choose classes. School Counselors provide students with information for further study after high school and are also available to talk about concerns relating to the school, extracurricular options, and classes.
School Psychologist or Social Worker: These are paid professionals in the school system. They help students deal with personal and family problems. Depending on the school system, students usually go to the School Counselor first, then be referred to the School Psychologist, if the situation warrants a referral.
AFS is an academic program and attending school is an integral part of the AFS experience. Every AFS Participant should be prepared to make an honest effort in school—even if they already graduated in their home country.
AFS participants must attend school regularly, complete all assignments, and participate in class. AFS expects you to do your best in school. Attending school and completing homework assignments are essential! Failing to do so may result in an early return to your home country.
Tip from a former AFSer: Don’t choose a class of your own language; if you are French, don’t choose AP (Advanced Placement) French! I was surprised by the number of classes to choose from – so choose something you wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn in your home country.
Questions and Answers about U.S. Schools
Can I choose my high school?
NO! U.S. American students attend the high school in their community. Rarely can they choose another high school.
How long must American students attend school in order to graduate?
Students must have 8-9 years of primary education (which usually includes kindergarten, a lower primary school, and a middle school) and 4 years of secondary education (high school).
Will I be able to choose my grade level?
No. Your grade level will be determined by the school officials. AFS-USA cannot guarantee that you will be placed in a particular grade level.
Do you have to pass an exam to move from one grade to the next?
No, exams are not required to move on from one grade to the next in high schools.
How long is the school year?
The annual school calendar may vary from state to state. The school year begins anywhere from early-August to early September and runs anywhere from mid-May to late June. There is usually a one-week to two-week break during the Christmas and New Year holidays, and one-week break in the spring. Some schools have a break in the fall or in February depending on which part of the country you live in the U.S.
How will I choose my classes? Will anyone help me?
At the beginning of the school year, you will likely meet with an advisor or school counselor who will help you select classes. Usually, between five to seven different classes are selected depending on your age, school record, abilities, and interests. Before you arrive to the U.S., you can search for the course listing on the school's website. It can usually be found in the sections for counseling or academics.
Am I required to take any particular classes?
Your host school may require you to take certain subjects, including English and U.S. History. Given the choice, you should not pick just easy classes, because you will soon be bored. You should take any class that will enable you to stay current with a subject you will study upon return to your host country, particularly math or science.
How long does one class last?
A typical class lasts about 50 minutes. Some schools now have what is called a “block schedule." A typical block-schedule class might last 90 or 120 minutes and meets every other day instead of daily.
What are U.S. American classes like?
U.S. American classes usually do not have formal lectures. Many teachers often prefer discussions in their classrooms and expect students to ask questions and contribute their own ideas and analysis. Class participation is one method for teachers to assess a student’s understanding of the subject. Students are often graded on how much they participate in class discussions, so it’s a good idea to raise your hand and get involved.
What is the homework like?
Homework is generally given on a daily basis in U.S. high schools and the quality and quantity of this work contributes to the student's final grade. For this reason, it is important that you submit your homework on time. If you find it difficult to complete assignments, which may be the case early on in your experience, please tell your teacher, host parents, and/or liaison so that you can get the help you need. Remember, it’s normal to have trouble with classes, especially when you are first learning the language, so it’s important to ask for help when you need it!
Will I participate in safety drills?
Yes, all U.S. schools must follow rules regarding teaching students how to prepare for any number of emergencies. Therefore, schools run a practice for following their safety protocols which are called drills. These can be for fire, tornado, earthquakes, or even intruders or other safety concerns. Please ask your teacher what to do if you do not understand what is expected of you for any of these practices.
What are U.S. American exams like?
Exams can include essays, short answer, and multiple-choice questions. At times, projects, research papers, and performances may replace an exam for a particular class or subject. Be sure to only turn in work that is your own and not copied from another student or completed with the assistance of AI or the internet. The use of these resources can invalidate your work and be considered academic dishonesty.
Am I required to participate in state testing?
Statistical analysis of student's performance is part of the educational system in the U.S., therefore AFS participants are expected to take any tests required of other students in their grade level and classes. Failure to do so can damage AFS's relationship with your host school and prevent future AFS Participants from being placed there.
How long is the school day?
It varies by school. In general, the school day begins between 7:30am and 8:30am and ends around 3:00pm or 3:30pm.
How will I get to school?
In most areas of the U.S., students will get a ride to school by their host parent or sibling, or they will take a school bus. Sometimes students will walk to school if they live nearby. In large metropolitan areas, there may be an option for public transportation, but this is not an option for most participants.
Can I receive a diploma?
There is NO guarantee that AFS participants can or will receive a diploma. Some high schools might grant diplomas to AFS students IF they have successfully completed all of the high school’s graduation requirements. Therefore, AFS Participants should NOT expect to receive a diploma since NO school is required to grant a diploma to a student from outside the U.S. We ask that you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) do NOT pressure your host school to provide a diploma if you have already been told it is not possible. Doing so is considered impolite and can damage AFS’s relationship with your host school, possibly preventing other participants from being hosted there in the future.
All schools can provide an official record of attendance and grades earned by the student. It is YOUR responsibility to obtain these documents BEFORE you depart the U.S.
Can I participate in graduation?
Some U.S. high schools might allow AFS exchange students to participate in the high school graduation or commencement ceremony by “walking across the stage." “Walking across the stage” is NOT the same as receiving an actual diploma. Participating in the graduation ceremony is one way that some high schools allow hosted participants to experience their school’s traditions. Being allowed to participate may depend on eligibility, grades, attendance, participation, behavior, availability of space during the ceremony or other factors. Hosted participants may want to ask if they are allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony (i.e., “walking across the stage”) and if so, under what circumstances or conditions. However, it’s important to remember that U.S. schools are NOT required to allow hosted participants to participate in the graduation ceremony. Therefore, we ask that you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) do NOT pressure your host school to let you participate in this ceremony if the school has already informed you that it’s not possible. Doing so is considered impolite and disrespectful of school policies.
For the ‘24-‘25 school year will my school have in-person classes?
U.S school districts plan to conduct in-person class for the 2024-2025 school year. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. schools have "e-Learning" days either built into their annual calendar or they may choose to announce them for different factors, such as weather-related matters or a building maintenance concern.
Will I have the opportunity to do a presentation about my country/culture?
You will find that many Americans will be interested to know more about you and your country. You may be asked to give presentations about your country at school or you can approach a teacher and ask if you can give one. We suggest taking advantage of International Education Week which occurs the full week before American Thanksgiving annually. You can give presentations to club groups, your classes, elementary or middle school groups and more!
We suggest you bring information about your home country and items to represent your family and school to help with these presentations. Examples of helpful information could be:
- Digital or hard copy photographs
- Books with pictures
- Music
- Recipes
- Traditional clothing
These things are also a good way of introducing your host family to your life back home and are a good way for you and your host family to get to know each other.