U.S. public education system

The U.S. public education system is a network of publicly funded schools that provide education to children from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is primarily governed by state and local authorities, leading to variations in curricula and funding. Students typically start school around age 5 and graduate at about 18. Education is free and aims to be accessible to all, promoting foundational skills in subjects like math, science, and language arts. Standards and assessments help measure students' progress, and public schools often offer additional programs in the arts, sports, and special education to support diverse learning needs.