Public schools curriculum
- Early elementary school years (k-third grade)
- Late elementary school years (fourth–sixth grades)
- Middle school (seventh–eighth grades)
- Secondary (high) school (ninth–twelfth grades)
The totality of formal academic courses offered in American public schools. These include a broad range of liberal arts, science, preprofessional, vocational and self-improvement courses. Although it has no jurisdiction over public school education, the U.S. Department of Education occasionally publishes model curricula for elementary, middle and high schools that reflect the broad academic curriculum offered by most American public schools—namely, English, mathematics, science, history (social studies), modern foreign languages, art, music, physical education and hygiene and health education. The number of years required varies widely from state to state and school district to school district, as does the depth of exploration into each subject. Here, however, is the model of an ideal curriculum suggested by Secretary of Education William Bennett for all public school students in two pamphlets issued by the Department of Education in 1985 and entitled James Madison Elementary School, A Curriculum for American Students and James Madison High School, A Curriculum for American Students.
Early elementary school years (k-third grade)
English
Introduction to reading and writing (phonics, silent and oral reading, basic rules of grammar and spelling, vocabulary, writing and penmanship, elementary composition and library skills).
Social Studies
Introduction to history, geography and civics (significant Americans; explorers; Native Americans; American holidays, customs and symbols; citizenship; and landscape, climate and map work).
Mathematics
Introduction to mathematics (numbers; basic operations; fractions and decimals; rounding; geometric shapes; measurement of length, area and volume; bar graphs; and estimation and elementary statistics).
Science
Introduction to science (plants and animals; the food chain; the solar system; rocks and minerals; weather; magnets; energy and motion; properties or matter; simple experiments).
Foreign Language
Optional.
Fine Arts
Music and visual arts (songs, recordings, musical sounds, instruments, painting, craftmaking and visual effects).
Physical Education / Health
Body control, fitness, sports, games and exercises; sportsmanship; safety; hygiene, nutrition and drug prevention education.
Late elementary school years (fourth–sixth grades)
English
Introduction to critical reading (children’s literature; independent reading and book reports; more advanced grammar, spelling and vocabulary; composition skills).
Social Studies
Grade 4, U.S. history to Civil War; grade 5, U.S. history since 1865; grade 6, world history to the Middle Ages.
Mathematics
Intermediate arithmetic and geometry (number theory; negative numbers; percentages and exponents; line graphs; the Pythagorean theorem; basic probability).
Science
Grade 4, earth science and related topics; grade 5, life science and related topics; grade 6, physical science and related topics.
Foreign Language
Introduction to foreign language (basic vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, conversation and cultural materials).
Fine Arts
Music and visual art (great composers, musical styles and forms, elementary music theory, great painters, interpretation of art and creative projects).
Physical Education / Health
Team and individual sports, first aid, drugprevention education and appropriate sex education.
Middle school (seventh–eighth grades)
English
Grade 7, survey of elementary grammar and composition; grade 8, survey of elementary literary analysis.
Social Studies
Grade 7, world history from the Middle Ages to 1900; grade 8, world geography and Asian history and civilization.
Mathematics
Two of the following one-year courses: general mathematics, pre-algebra, algebra.
Science
Grade 7, biology; grade 8, chemistry and physics.
Foreign Language
Formal language study; two years strongly recommended.
Fine Arts
One semester each of music appreciation and art appreciation.
Physical Education / Health
Strategy in team sports, gymnastics, aerobics, self-assessment for health, drug-prevention education and appropriate sex education.
Secondary (high) school (ninth–twelfth grades)
English
Grade 9, grammar, composition and literary analysis; grade 10, grammar, composition and English literature; grade 11, composition, literary analysis and English and American literature; grade 12, advanced composition and world literature.
Social Studies
Grade 9, anthropology and ancient history; grade 10, medieval or modern European history; grade 11, American history, American government and the U.S. Constitution; grade 12, elective (medieval or modern history).
Mathematics
Grade 9, algebra I; grade 10, plane and solid geometry; grade 11, algebra II and trigonometry; grade 12, elective (statistics and probability [1 semester], precalculus [1 semester], calculus).
Science
One year required each in any of the following courses: astronomy/geology; biology; chemistry and physics; or principles of technology. The fourth year provides for an elective in lieu of science.
Foreign Language
Three years required in a single language from among those offered by the school. The fourth year provides for an elective in lieu of foreign language.
Physical Education / Health
Two years required participation in physical education; health 9 and health 10 required in ninth and tenth grades. Free periods in eleventh and twelfth grades may be filled with elective courses.
Fine Arts
One year each required in art history and music history. The student may take elective courses in the other two years.