How do schools work in the USA?
Most American children go to a free public school run by their local school district, and in most places your address decides which school that is. So in the US, choosing a home and choosing a school are usually the same decision.
In 30 seconds
- Public schools are free, and they can’t refuse your child because of immigration status. You will need proof of address
- Your address usually sets your school, and districts are funded partly by local property taxes, so school quality and house prices go together
- Children usually start kindergarten at 5. If your child may want a UK university later, the 3-year residence rule for home fees matters
How the grades work
School starts with kindergarten, then grades 1 to 12. Schools are grouped as elementary and middle schools (kindergarten to grade 8) and high schools (grades 9 to 12), though the split varies. Grades are set by age and each district’s cut-off date, so the grade your child joins may not match their year group in England: talk to the school about the right grade. Check your district’s calendar for term dates.
Starting ages
| Place | Kindergarten entry | School compulsory from |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | In September of the calendar year your child turns 5 (children born in 2021 started in September 2026). Every five-year-old resident is entitled to a public kindergarten place | Age 6 in New York State |
| Massachusetts | Each district sets its own cut-off; ask the district | Age 6 |
| Washington DC | 5 on or before 30 September | Age 5 |
| Illinois | 5 on or before 1 September | Age 6 |
| Texas | 5 on or before 1 September | Age 6 |
| Florida | 5 on or before 1 September | Age 6 |
| California | 5 on or before 1 September | Age 6 |
These are from the federal education statistics centre’s state survey (2020); districts can add their own rules, so confirm with the district before you move.
Types of school
| Type | Share of pupils | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Public (state) schools | About 89% (49.4 million, autumn 2021) | Free. Run by a local school district. Usually you go to the school for your address, with some choice and specialist programmes |
| Private schools | About 11% (6.1 million, autumn 2021) | Fees vary widely. The average reported tuition was $12,790 a year in 2020–21: $9,210 for elementary and middle schools and $15,420 for high schools.. These are the highest fees each school reported, before any discounts |
Your right to a place
Since the Supreme Court’s Plyler v. Doe decision in 1982, states can’t deny children a free public education because of their immigration status. The district can ask for proof that you live in the area, such as your lease and a utility bill; the documents accepted are set by state law. Ask the district what else it needs, such as vaccination and school records. See Moving schools.
Districts, addresses and property tax
In 2020–21, 44% of public school money came from local sources, 46% from the state and 11% from the federal government. Local school money comes largely from property tax: in Texas, for example, school districts rely on local property tax as well as state and federal funding. So better-funded districts often sit in areas with higher house prices and rents. If you buy, the school district is part of your tax bill; see Buying a home.
How places are given in our eight cities
| Place | How it works |
|---|---|
| New York City | Most families have a zoned school with priority for their address. For kindergarten you apply through MySchools; for September 2027 the application opens on 9 December 2026 and closes on 22 January 2027. Some districts have no zoned schools |
| Washington DC | Every address has an in-boundary school. Applications for pre-K3 to grade 8 at other schools go through the My School DC lottery |
| Chicago | You can go to your neighbourhood school or apply to any elementary school in the city through GoCPS |
| Boston, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco | Ask the district how assignment works: some use your address, others a list of choices or a lottery, and specialist (magnet) schools have their own applications |
Every state publishes school report cards with test results; search for your state’s education department “school report card”. Visit schools and ask about class sizes, support for new arrivals and after-school care.
Leaving school and university
US universities set their own admission rules and fees, so look at the ones your child may want early in high school.
What to do next
- Shortlist school districts before choosing where to live
- Gather your child’s records, vaccinations and proof of address
- Ask the district how places are given and when to apply
Keep going
- NCES: Fast facts, enrollment trends in public and private schools
- NCES: Fast facts, back-to-school statistics
- NCES: State education practices, Table 1.3, kindergarten entrance and attendance requirements by state (2020)
- NYC Public Schools: Kindergarten admissions
- NCES: Digest of Education Statistics, Table 205.50, private school enrolment and average tuition
- NCES: Condition of Education, public school revenue sources
- Texas Comptroller: Property tax basics
- American Immigration Council: Public education for immigrant students, understanding Plyler v. Doe
- DC Public Schools: Apply to the My School DC lottery
- DCPS: Enroll, find your in-boundary school
- Chicago Public Schools: GoCPS elementary school options
- GOV.UK: Student finance, who qualifies