Private K-12 Schools

There are many education options in the U.S. so that families may choose the program that is the best fit for them.

Private schools are independent institutions, and each school has its own distinctive academic and extracurricular offerings. Students apply for admission, and a limited number of applicants are accepted based on their qualifications, English proficiency and fit with the qualities that the institutions are seeking.

Hawaii has many high-quality private schools that focus on preparing students for four-year accredited colleges or universities. Private schools may offer advanced classes, custom class schedules, and additional college-preparatory resources. The K-12 schools participating in Globally Connected Education (GCE) are among the top private schools in Hawaii.

U.S. Education Levels

Education levels in the U.S. are called “grades” and are one academic year long. Students complete 13 grades, which includes kindergarten, before attending college.

• Students enter primary school, which is called elementary school, in kindergarten (K) when they are 5 years old. They continue in elementary school for grades 1-5 or for grades 1-6.
• Students then go on to secondary school, which is divided into middle school for grades 6-8 or grades 7-8, and high school for grades 9-12. Students graduate with an American high school diploma after completing the 12th grade, typically when they are 18 years old.

After earning their high school diploma, students may go on to postsecondary education, or college. There are many college degrees available, including:

• Associate degree (two-year degree)
• Bachelor’s degree (four-year degree; the standard for many jobs in the U.S.)
• Master’s degree (students must have earned a bachelor’s degree first)
• Doctorate (includes PhD, MD and JD; students must have earned a bachelor’s degree first)