American children start school at the age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is required of all American children enrolled in the American education system. The second year at school is considered the first year of primary school and is referred to as first grade. In America, the word grade has two meanings: (1) the score achieved on an exam or in a course, and (2) a year of education in primary or secondary school. Primary school most commonly consists of five years of education, referred to as first through fifth grades.

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College courses are assigned a value in what are called "credits" or "units." The number of units assigned to a course corresponds to the number of hours that a student will attend class for that course. For example, a course that consists of three class sessions per week, and where each class session last for 50 minutes, will be assigned a value of three units. Typically, colleges require that students complete a minimum number of units in order to graduate, rather than a minimum number of courses. This gives students more flexibility in what courses they decide to take to complete their graduation requirements.

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The types of academic courses that students take in high school are proven to be a crucial factor in getting students admitted into top colleges and universities. The rigor or level of difficulty, of students' high school coursework affects their likelihood of admission into a competitive college. For example, many four-year colleges and universities require advanced mathematics courses for admission, and students who have completed a rigorous high school math curriculum are more likely to enroll in the college of their choice than those students who have not.

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The USA high school system is unlike that of many other countries. There is little national standardization in the typical USA high school (or secondary school) curriculum. Individual states have great control over what coursework is taught in the USA high schools within their borders, as well as in the requirements that students must meet in order to graduate with a US high school diploma. Therefore, what courses and subjects are offered at US high schools will vary depending on where the high school is located. Many international students choose to study at one of the many top USA boarding schools.

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