Secondary

Overview

Information on key aspects of a country’s education system, including governance, instructional language, and other structural features defined by national or regional regulations.

Ministry Responsible

Local school districts, State and territorial departments of education

Language of Instruction

English

Duration

7 years (ages 12/15 to 18) (varies by state)

Grades 6 to 12

Levels

Lower (middle or junior high school) secondary: Grades 6 to 8 (compulsory)

Upper (high school) secondary: Grades 9 to 12 (compulsory)

Qualifications, Curriculum, Grading

Not all awards or study patterns are included.

Institutions

Types and number of officially recognized institutions providing secondary education.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Grading System

Examples of the most commonly used grading scales.

Enrollment

Total Enrollment

Total enrollment in a specific level of education, regardless of age.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Gross Enrollment Ratio

Total enrollment in a specific level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the eligible official school-age population corresponding to the same level of education in a given school year.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

International Benchmarks

PISA 2025 Mathematics

United States

462.8

Global Rank

27 of 90

OECD Average

463.0

Source: OECD

PISA 2025 Science

United States

501.6

Global Rank

13 of 91

OECD Average

481.9

Source: OECD

PISA 2025 Reading

United States

489.5

Global Rank

13 of 90

OECD Average

460.9

Source: OECD

TIMSS 2023 Mathematics Grade 8

United States

488

Global Rank

22 of 44

International Average

478

Source: Boston College, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center

TIMSS 2023 Science Grade 8

United States

513

Global Rank

15 of 44

International Average

478

Source: Boston College, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center

Lower Secondary Mathematics: Percentage of Proficient Students

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics.

United States

66.1% (2022)

Global Rank

37 of 103

High Income Countries Average

70.9% (2019)

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Lower Secondary Reading: Percentage of Proficient Students

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading.

United States

79.9% (2022)

Global Rank

11 of 94

High Income Countries Average

80.5% (2019)

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics