A school is a physical educational establishment designed to offer various learning spaces and learning settings for students under the supervision of qualified teachers. In most countries, a school consists of a set number of schools, each of which is administered by a board of teachers called a school board. In these systems, new students progress through an initial set of schools known as primary schools. They then progress to secondary schools, eventually graduating to universities and colleges in which they can continue their studies and earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree.

At secondary school, the students are able to take up one of the broad options available to them including grade school, junior high school. Secondary school education usually spans two years, although some areas of the United States, such as New York and Massachusetts, extend the duration of this period by a year or more. In many parts of Canada, elementary schools and secondary schools combine to form a junior college and the same is true of the British Columbia Province. However, in the United States, there are only two main types of secondary schools: public and private.

A public secondary school provides students with equal access to opportunities in the education system, as offered to other students within the jurisdiction of that school. Private schools on the other hand function on a first come-first served basis, with students being admitted based on their grades. Private schools are generally affiliated with larger regional or community colleges. Students who wish to pursue higher education after passing their primary education may join colleges or universities on the basis of their grades, or even as joint applications with one of the many accredited post-secondary institutions. One major advantage of a private educational institution is that it allows the student to participate fully in the education process without having to move from their present location.