What International Newcomers to the US Need to Know About American Schools

School violence and low math scores. That's what makes international news about US schools. So when parents arrive in the US from another country, they are often unprepared for the many differences in curriculum, parents' and children's relationships with teachers, expectations, rules, grades, and more. In our new book, Understanding American Schools: The Answers to Newcomers' Most Frequently Asked Questions, we provide background to the US school system and its values, and answer the questions newcomers often have (click here to order the book). To see the book's Table of Contents, including the complete list of 73 questions we answer, click here. Here are a few sample answers:

FAQ: Why is class participation seen as so important?

International families from some countries are surprised at the American emphasis on speaking in class, as opposed to listening to the teacher lecture. In the American system, discussion of ideas and putting thoughts into words are highly valued. Children are taught to speak aloud in class from the earliest days of kindergarten. They have "Show and Tell" or "Sharing Time," when each child is expected to speak to the whole class about something that has happened in their lives (a trip to the zoo, a visit from a grandmother, etc.) This skill at speaking becomes especially important in later years, as children are expected to ask questions, think creatively about solutions (even if the solutions are wrong!), and even argue with the teacher. The American value of individualism is taught in this way.

FAQ: Am I expected to participate in my child's school?

Yes. Many international newcomers are surprised at how involved American parents are with their childrens elementary schools. Schools expect parents to:

Stop by the classroom to chat with the teacher periodically
Observe or help in the classroom
Volunteer time in the school library, student clubs, or special events
Speak informally with the school principal from time to time
Attend Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) or Association (PTA) meetings
Go with your childs class on trips to museums or plays
Give money, items to sell, or time for fund-raising events

Middle and high schools also welcome parental involvement in fund-raising, supervising school activities, and sharing their expertise and judgment. Schools at all levels expect parents to bring questions and concerns to them. Make an effort to meet your principal and guidance counselor now, even if you do not have questions. Then, when you do, it will be easy to approach them for help.

FAQ: Are academically-oriented students educated differently than those who will not go on to university?

In elementary and middle schools, all children are educated in the same schools, regardless of their abilities. However, American teachers begin individualizing childrens learning from kindergarten on, so that children who excel in reading or math, for example, may get more challenging assignments than other students. Some schools begin to track(put children of different ability levels in different classes) in middle school.

In some communities or regions, there are vocational school alternatives to high schools, in which students learn job-related skills (like auto mechanics and food preparation) in addition to basic academics. But the majority of Americans go to a regular high school regardless of their academic future. Although there is some tracking based on ability in many high schools, American students who will go on to be university professors, doctors, and lawyers typically go to the same high schools (and are in some of the same classes) as those who will not go on to higher education at all.

FAQ: Some topics seem to be taught in too much detail, while others are only given light treatment; why?

American teachers sometimes choose one narrow topic (like "wolves" or "Beethoven") to study in detail. Why wolves, not "mammals?" Why Beethoven, not "composers?" By teaching a single topic in detail, teachers are trying to give students a sense of how to study a topic in depth, integrating such notions as habitat, migration, and the interconnected web of life. On the other hand, in the American system, many important topics (like "decimals" or "medieval history") are taught at several different ages, in increasing detail and sophistication. What seems to be "light treatment" may be just the first introduction of a topic that will be taught again and again over several years.

FAQ: What are "AP courses?"

"AP" stands for Advanced Placement. AP courses are taught at an advanced, more difficult level than the standard courses. High schools may offer them in a number of subjects. The most common courses are in English literature, U.S. History, and Calculus, but your school may also offer AP courses in such topics as biology, chemistry, English and other languages, European history, U.S. government, art history, statistics, and economics. After completing an AP course, students may take a national AP exam in that subject. Students who get a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exam may be eligible to earn university credit for that course, and/or be allowed to start at a higher level in university.

Understanding American Schools: The Answers to Newcomers' Most Frequently Asked Questions

By Anne P. Copeland, PhD and Georgia Bennett

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The American Educational Context

The Long View

The impact of the American higher education system on what you see in elementary and high school classrooms
What American teachers value

All Schools Are Not Created Equal

Local, not Federal, Decision Making
Public School Funding and Quality
Private School Funding and Quality
Accreditation
Federal Influence on Education
Urban vs. Suburban Schools

Chapter 2: Choosing the Type of School Your Child Will Attend

What choices do we have?
Who can go to a public school?
How much does it cost to go to a public school?
Who can go to a private school?
How much does it cost to go to a private school?
What are "boarding schools?"
What is an "international school?"
What is a "magnet school?"
What is a "charter school?"
What are "vouchers?"
Can my child earn an International Baccalaureate degree?
Can I send my child to a school based on my home country's curriculum?
Can my children go to a school run by a religious organization if that is not our religion?
Should we be considering single-sex education?

Chapter 3: School Structure