high school

Q: What is high school?

In most school systems in the United States, high school is any three- to six-year secondary school serving students approximately 13 (or 14 or 15) through 18 years of age.

Q: Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from high schools and libraries?

Whether parents or other adults should be able to ban books from high schools and libraries is intensely debated. Some say adults have a right to decide if their kids are exposed to controversial issues. Others say exposure to new ideas helps kids navigate the world and be empathetic. For more on the banned books debate, visit ProCon.org .

Q: Should corporal punishment be used in high schools?

Whether corporal punishment should be used in high schools is widely debated. Some say it is the appropriate discipline for certain children when used in moderation because it sets clear boundaries and motivates children to behave in school. Others say can inflict long-lasting physical and mental harm on students while creating an unsafe and violent school environment. For more on the corporal punishment debate, visit ProCon.org .

Q: Should dress codes be implemented and enforced in high school?

Whether dress codes should be implemented and enforced in high school is hotly debated. Some argue dress codes enforce decorum and a serious, professional atmosphere conducive to success, as well as promote safety. Others argue dress codes reinforce racist standards of beauty and dress and are are seldom uniformly mandated, often discriminating against women and marginalized groups. For more on the dress code debate, visit ProCon.org .

American education

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Oct 24, 2024 • Article History

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What is high school?

Should parents or other adults be able to ban books from high schools and libraries?

Should corporal punishment be used in high schools?

Should dress codes be implemented and enforced in high school?

high school, in most school systems in the United States, any three- to six-year secondary school serving students approximately 13 (or 14 or 15) through 18 years of age. Often in four-year schools the different levels are designated, in ascending order, freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.

The most common form is the comprehensive high school that includes both general academic courses and specialized—commercial, trade, and technical—subjects in its curriculum. There are also many types of specialized schools, agricultural schools, business or commercial schools, trade or vocational schools, and preprofessional schools, such as the High School of Music and Art in New York City and the Bronx High School of Science.

Most American high schools are public—i.e., tuition-free, supported by state funds. There are, however, a number of private high schools throughout the country, supported generally through a combination of tuition charges and private grants or endowments. Most of these schools offer primarily academic courses to college-oriented students, and many are sectarian. See also secondary education.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by J.E. Luebering.