WORLDWIDE CULTUREL
EXCHANGE PROGRAM
High
School

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

The United States is a federal constitutional republic consisting of fifty states and one federal district. Most of the country is located in the middle of North America, between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. There is no such thing as typical America or typical American. The size of the country and the differences in the fifty states make it difficult to draw conclusions, and generalizations may mislead you.

Education in the United States is generally provided by the government. Attendance is compulsory in primary and secondary schools. The education system in the USA is not centralized like the education system in Turkey. Core standards for elementary and secondary school curriculum are set by the US Department of Education, but each state and even city sets its own curriculum and goals. The student who completes the 5th grade moves on to secondary school that lasts 7 years and covers 6th to 12th grades. The last 4 years of secondary education are called high school. A student who completes the 12th grade is entitled to receive a high school diploma. In the American education system, it is necessary to have a high school diploma in order to attend college or university. There is no national exam or course application for high school students in the USA. However, educators have implemented a list of general standards for the qualification requirements expected of students who will graduate from high school.

In accordance with its multicultural structure, the USA provides foreign high school students between the ages of 15-17 the right to be exchange students for one or more years. Students are placed with volunteer families selected by the Ministry of State and attend the public high school closest to their homes. Exchange students can stay in this program for one or more academic years.