American children receive school (secondary) education in public, private, parochial, and home schools.
Public schools
There are more than 90 thousand public elementary and secondary (high) schools in the United States. Public schools accept everyone, without exception, at the place of residence. About $500 billion is spent on public schools in the United States (about 4.5% of the country’s gross domestic product). Public schools are funded at three levels: federal, state and local budgets. The costs of schools at the local level are covered by property taxes. There is a certain correlation between school funding and the cost of housing in a particular school district, namely, the higher the housing prices in a particular school district, the better the school funding. If school performance rises, housing prices rise, as Americans often choose where to live based on the school. The popularity of a school leads to an increase in the demand for housing in a particular area, and this has a corresponding effect on the cost of housing in the school district.
Private schools
There are more than 30 thousand private elementary and secondary (higher) schools in the United States. Of these, 3 thousand schools are considered elite. Private schools are funded by tuition fees and donations. Unlike public schools, private schools are selective in their admission. Private schools are independent of the state and school districts.
Parochial schools
A significant number of American children are educated in parochial schools. The Catholic school system is widespread in the United States. Church schools are supported by tuition fees; part of the funds are covered by the church.
Home school education
About 3% of American children study the school program at home. The reason for home schooling is the religious and moral beliefs of parents. Sometimes parents create a kind of home school, where parents share the teaching of subjects. The level of academic success of home schooling is verified by the relevant authorities in most states.
The state and the system of school (secondary) education management
A public (state) school usually belongs to a particular school district. There are 14 thousand school districts in the United States. A school district usually coincides with the boundaries of a particular administrative unit. A school district can unite 1 million students (New York City) or a few hundred students. A district can have one, several, dozens, or even hundreds of schools. A school district often has one or more magnet schools. Magnet schools are schools for gifted children, and these schools have a certain specialization. The school district is led by an elected school board. The school board decides on financial, administrative, and educational issues; for example, it is the school board that largely determines school curricula, selects textbooks, hires teachers and school administrators, and decides on financial and material support for schools. The state remains responsible for setting educational standards and determining the level of academic performance of students. The federal center, through the Ministry of Education, is primarily concerned with equal access to education.