<P> State governments set overall educational standards, often mandate standardized tests for K--12 public school systems and supervise, usually through a board of regents, state colleges, and universities . Funding comes from the state, local, and federal government . Private schools are generally free to determine their own curriculum and staffing policies, with voluntary accreditation available through independent regional accreditation authorities, although some state regulation can apply . </P> <P> In 2013, about 87% of school - age children (those below higher education) attended state funded public schools, about 10% attended tuition - and foundation - funded private schools and roughly 3% were home - schooled . </P> <P> By state law, education is compulsory over an age range starting between five and eight and ending somewhere between ages sixteen and eighteen, depending on the state . This requirement can be satisfied in public schools, state - certified private schools, or an approved home school program . In most schools, compulsory education is divided into three levels: elementary school, middle or junior high school, and high school . Children are usually divided by age groups into grades, ranging from kindergarten (5--6 year olds) and first grade for the youngest children, up to twelfth grade (17--18 years old) as the final year of high school . </P> <P> There are also a large number and wide variety of publicly and privately administered institutions of higher education throughout the country . Post-secondary education, divided into college, as the first tertiary degree, and graduate school, is described in a separate section below . </P>

What age do students graduate from high school