Schooling across the United States differs greatly in itself. Schools have different policies regarding scheduling, classes, and curriculum. Each school in America is slightly different, but at the same time, shares many similarities. However, schools abroad and overseas are quite different than those inside the United State’s borders. Their set-up is different, their studies are different; they even have different names for “grades.”

In America, though differences in schools are prevalent, most share a few similar traits. Schools start at Kindergarten, and continue through twelfth grade (certain grades may be designated as “elementary,” “middle school, or “high school” depending on the school systems set-up). After attending these twelve years of school, students are free to pursue colleges, universities, or the job market.

However, across the globe, many schools are not set up this way. “American schools are much different than Swedish schools,” says Lisa Andersson, a 19 year old Swedish student who is attending a university in Malmö, Sweden. “In Sweden, all the schools are public, and no one has to pay to go to school. In high school, you choose what you want to study,” said Andersson. “You can study music, science, the society, or art and design, which is very popular here in Sweden.”

Unlike American schools, where high school is still a comprehensive education, Swedish students are able to focus on one aspect of their education, something that they believe they will grow up to focus on as a career.

“The best thing about Swedish schools,” said Andersson, “is that every student in Sweden gets 100.00 Euro [approximately $115.00] every month, from their birth, to when they are twenty years old. They do this to encourage students to attend school – and it works!”

Other countries have even less conventional schooling systems. In Jordan, schooling begins in a grade similar to that of kindergarten, and continues in the same manner until what is similar to eighth grade in America. In this school, the curriculum is provided by the government, the classes are taught in Arabic, and is run by the Ministry of Education.

Ibrahim Al-Alami, a student who is currently attending college in England, but grew up in Jordan, said that after that, he was able to choose the path of his own education. “In ninth grade, I moved to an international school that taught in English. It was a two-year course called the IGCESE, which is an international examination board,” said Al-Alami. “What the school does is teach as much as they can in each subject – far more than is required by any state or school board, and much more than what is required by the board. The curriculum and system was incredibly difficult – much different, and much more challenging than American schools, from what I know of them.”

Many international educational organizations offer programs that are challenging and demanding, and IGCSE is not the only one. After leaving the IGCESE, Al-Alami attended an International Baccalaureate school – a school that is well-accredited and well-known, even in America. “It was challenging, but I learned a great deal,” said Al-Alami.

Foreign schools are often said to be more challenging that American schools, perhaps due to the different standards that the students overseas are held to.

Gregor Janisch is a 19 year old student in Munich, Germany, and is currently attending his last year of what is parallel to American high school. “I think that American schools are much easier than my school,” said Janisch. “In America, it seems that students have to work just to understand things for tests, and to get into a school or university. At my school, we have to learn everything about a subject, and when we are tested on the material, it is much more difficult.”

In Janisch’s school, students are expected to attend classes in science, mathematics, social sciences, English, as well as a third foreign language. Most students are at least tri-lingual. “We have all the normal subjects,” said Janish, “and then we also have intensive language courses, art courses, even business courses.”

After students finish the equivalent of American high school, they typically attend the university of their country. Unlike America, most countries have one or two large universities, where the majority of the students attend classes in certain career options. “After I leave [my school], I plan on attending university in Munich, perhaps for business.”

While many students are attending university in their home country, more and more students are looking abroad for university. Many students are considering American universities. Shereen Halabawi, a student applying to colleges from Beirut, Lebanon, is looking at American colleges. “I’m applying to NYU, George Washington, and Fordham,” said Halabawi.

Whether students are attending International Baccalaureate schools, or typical American high schools, the objective of all schools is to prepare its students for a continued education, and eventually, the job market. Whether the school in Beirut does this through extensive teaching or a school in Sweden does this by paying its students, the objective is still accomplished.