Middle school


Middle school, also known as intermediate school, senior public school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, middle school includes grades 6, 7, and 8, consisting of students from ages 11 to 14.

Algeria

In Algeria, a middle school includes 4 grades: 6, 7, 8, and 9, consisting of students from ages 11–15.

Argentina

The ciclo básico of secondary education is roughly equivalent to middle school.

Australia

No states of Australia have separate middle schools, as students go directly from primary school to secondary school.
As an alternative to the middle school model, some secondary schools classify their grades as "middle school" or "junior high school" and "senior high school". Some have three levels, "junior", "intermediate", and "senior". Some schools run a specialised year 9 program separate from the other secondary year levels.
In 1996 and 1997, a national conference met to develop what became known as the National Middle Schooling Project, which aimed to develop a common Australian view of
  • early adolescent needs
  • guiding principles for educators
  • appropriate strategies to foster positive adolescent learning.
The first middle school established in Australia was The Armidale School, in Armidale. Other schools have since followed this trend.
The Northern Territory has introduced a three tier system featuring Middle Schools for years 7–9 and high school year 10–12.
Many schools across Queensland have introduced a Middle School tier within their schools. The middle schools cover years 5 to 8.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, middle school is not separated as in other countries. Generally, schools are from grade 1 to grade 10. It means primary, secondary. Class 6–8 is thought of as middle school. Grades 1,2,3,4 and 5 are said to be primary school while all the classes from 6 to 10 are considered high school while 11–12 is called college.
  • 1–5 is known as primary
  • 6–10 is known as secondary
  • 11–12 is known as higher secondary also known as '''college'''

    Bolivia

Middle schools in Bolivia have been abolished since 1994. Students aged 11–15 attend the last years of elementary education or the first years of secondary education.

Brazil

In Brazil, middle school is known as "Ensino Fundamental II" and is a mandatory stage that precedes High School consisting of grades 6 to 9, ages 11 to 14.

Canada

In Canada, the terms "middle school", "senior public school", "junior high school" are all used, depending on which grades the school caters to. Junior high schools tend to include only grades 7, 8, and sometimes 9, whereas middle schools are usually grades 6–8 or only grades 7–8 or 6–7, varying from area to area and also according to population vs. building capacity.
Another common model is grades 5–8. Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island junior high schools typically include grades 7–9, with the first year of high school traditionally being grade 10. In some places students go from elementary school to secondary school, meaning the elementary school covers to the end of grade 8.
In Ontario, the terms "middle school" and "senior public school" are used, with the latter being used particularly in the Old Toronto and Scarborough sections of Toronto plus in Mississauga, Brampton, and Kitchener-Waterloo. In many smaller Ontario cities and in some parts of larger cities, most elementary schools serve junior kindergarten to grade 8 meaning there are no separate middle schools buildings, while in some cities specific schools do serve the intermediate grades but are still called "elementary" or "public" schools with no recognition of the grades they serve in their name.
In the province of Quebec, there is no middle school section; post-elementary grade 6, the secondary level has five grades, called Secondary I to Secondary V.

Chile

There is no separate "middle school" in Chile, but Educación Básica encompasses both elementary and middle schools; it covers grades 1 to 8, students from ages 6 to 14.

China

In the People's Republic of China, primary school covers grades 1–6 and secondary school covers grades 7–12. Secondary schools are further divided into two stages, junior high school and senior high school. The Chinese junior high school is roughly equivalent to an American middle school, and provides the last 3 years of the nine-year compulsory education required for all Chinese citizens. The senior high school is optional but considered as critical preparation for tertiary education.
The admissions for most students to enrol in senior secondary schools from the junior stage are on the basis of the scores that they get in "Senior High School Entrance Exam", which are held by local governments. Other students may bypass the exam, based on their distinctive talents, like athletics, leadership merits or excellent coursework performance in junior stage.

Colombia

Secondary education is divided into basic secondary and mid-secondary. The students in basic secondary, roughly equivalent to middle school, are 11 or 12 to 15 or 16 years old.

Cuba

Secundaria básica is the approximate equivalent of middle school in Cuba.

Cyprus

In Cyprus, the equivalent period to middle school is called γυμνάσιο, which caters to children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. This is followed by λύκειο, for ages 16 to 18.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic after completing the nine-year elementary school a student may apply for high school or grammar school.
Students have the opportunity to enroll in high school from Grade 5 or Grade 7 of elementary school, spending eight or six years respectively at high school that otherwise takes four years. Thus they can spend five years in elementary school, followed by eight in high school. The first four years of the eight-year study program at high school are comparable with junior high school. Gymnasium focuses on a more advanced academic approach to education. All other types of high schools except gymnasiums and conservatories accept only students that finished Grade 9.

Ecuador

The 4th and last level of educación general básica is roughly equivalent to middle school.

Egypt

In Egypt, middle school precedes high school. It is called the preparatory stage and consists of three phases: first preparatory in which students study more subjects than primary with different branches. For instance, algebra and geometry are taught instead of "mathematics." In the second preparatory phase, students study science, geography, the history of Egypt starting with pharaonic history, including Coptic history, Islamic history, and concluding with modern history. The students are taught two languages, Arabic and English. Middle school lasts for three years.

France

In France, the equivalent period to middle school is collège, which lasts four years from the to the , accommodating pupils aged between 11 and 15. Upon completion of the latter, students are awarded a brevet des collèges if they obtain a certain number of points on a series of tests in various subjects, but also on a series of skills completed during the last year and on oral examinations. They can then enter high school, which lasts three years from the to the until the baccalauréat, and during which they can choose a general or a vocational field of study.

Georgia

In Georgia, the equivalent period to middle school covers ages 12 to 15, from the 6th grade to the 9th and guarantees basic educational degree certificate.

Greece

In Greece, the equivalent period to middle school is called γυμνάσιο, which caters to children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade.

India

In India, Middle School is classified as Upper Primary. Each state has its own State Board. Each has its own standards, which might be different from the Central Boards. In some institutions, providing education for 5th to 10th is known as a secondary school.
The levels of education in India are:
  • Pre-Primary – Nursery to KG
  • Primary – Classes I to V
  • Middle School – Classes VI to VIII
  • High school – Classes IX to X
  • Higher Secondary – Classes XI to XII

    Indonesia

In Indonesia, middle school covers ages 12 to 15 or grade 7 to grade 9.
Although compulsory education ends at junior high, most pursue higher education. There are around 22,000 middle schools in Indonesia with a balanced ownership between public and private sector.

Iran

Iran calls Middle School Guidance School, which caters to children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th and 9th grade.

Iraq

Middle school in Iraq, which is most commonly referred to as Intermediate school, enrolls children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. Upon completion of the 9th grade, students take the National Intermediate Baccalaureate Examination, which when passed, students get the option to enter either secondary general or vocational school.

Israel

In most of the cities in Israel, middle school covers ages 12 to 15.

Italy

In Italy the equivalent is the Scuola secondaria di secondo grado formerly and commonly called lower middle school, often shortened to middle school. When the Scuola secondaria di secondo grado, the equivalent of high school, was formerly called higher middle school, commonly called Superiori. The Middle School lasts three years from the student age of 11 to age 13. Since 2009, after Gelmini reform, the middle school was renamed Scuola secondaria di primo grado.

Jamaica

Middle school does not exist in Jamaica. It is however from grade 7–9 so they would be in high-school.