The Education

System in
Spain vs The
United States
By; Lauren Gotchie
The Structure of the Educational System in
Spain
➔ Nursery: 3 months- 3 years old
◆ Optional and not free
➔ Preschool: age 3- age 6
➔ Primary: age 6- age 12
◆ Three Stages:
● First stage: age 6- age 8
● Second stage: age 8- age 10
● Third stage: age 10- age 12
➔ Compulsory Secondary Education: age 12- age 16
➔ Upper Secondary Education: age 16- age 18
➔ University: age 18- whenever course are complete
The Structure of the Educational System in
the U.S
➔ Preschool: age 3- age 5 ➔ High School:
◆ Freshman: age 14- age 15
➔ Elementary school:
◆ Sophomore: age 15- age 16
◆ Kindergarten: age 5- age 6
◆ Junior: age 16- age 17
◆ First Grade: age 6- age 7
◆ senior : age 16- age 17
◆ Second Grade: age 7- age 8
➔ College: 18 years- whenever course is
◆ Third Grade: age 8- age 9
completed
◆ Fourth Grade: age 9- age 10
◆ Fifth Grade: age 10- age 11
➔ Junior High:
◆ Sixth grade: age 11- age 12
◆ Seventh Grade: age 12- age 13
◆ Eighth Grade: age 13- age 14
The Grading System in Spain
➔ Insufficient (IN)- insufficient
➔ Suficiente (SU)- Sufficient
➔ Bien (BI)- good
➔ Notable (NT)- very good
➔ Sobresaliente (SB)- outstanding
The Grading System in the U.S
➔ A+ = 97%+ ➔ D = 63%- 66%
➔ A = 93%- 96% ➔ D- = 60%- 62%
➔ A- = 90%- 92% ➔ F = 0%- 59%
➔ B+ = 87%- 89%
➔ B = 83%- 86%
➔ B- = 80%- 82%
➔ C+ = 77%- 79%
➔ C = 73%- 76%
➔ C- = 70%- 72%
➔ D+ = 67%- 69%
School Hours in Spain
➔ Primary School: 9am-noon, then a break for three hours, then resume to school
3:00pm-5:00pm
◆ Some children choose to go home for lunch or they can eat the lunch at the school
➔ Secondary Schools: 8:30am-5:30pm with a lunch break in between
➔ Upper Secondary: 8:30am- 3:00pm with no lunch break
➔ College: Varies
◆ The student is able to pick their schedule and times just like in the US
School Hours in the U.S
➔ Preschool:
◆ Half day- run from 2 ½ hours- 3 hours
◆ Full day- 8:00am- 2:00pm with a nap time around noon
➔ Kindergarten:
◆ Half day- 3 hours in length
◆ Full day: 5- 6 hours in length
➔ Elementary school: 9:00am- 3:25pm
➔ High school: 7:45am- 2:30pm
➔ College: Varies
◆ The student has the opportunity to create their own schedule
Interesting Facts about Spain
➔ Classes from ages 6- 16 are free to the public
◆ Only cost would be for books, materials, and sometimes uniforms
➔ All subjects are taught and studied in Spanish
➔ School year is made up of three terms
◆ 11 weeks per term
➔ Students stay in their classrooms and the teachers move to a different
classroom
➔ Teachers don’t have a dress code
➔ School lunches are typically not provided by the school for children
Work Cited
https://www.expatica.com/es/education/Education-in-Spain_103110.html

https://www.justlanded.com/english/United-States/USA-Guide/Education/The-
American-school-system

https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/spain/family/schooling-education/school-
schedule

https://www.classbase.com/countries/Spain/Grading-System