In the early 1800's the idea of free public schools began to gain widespread support in the country . State and local governments took the responsibility for establishing public school systems . By 1918, every state had laws requiring children to attend school until they reached a certain age or completed a certain grade . Most of them are co-educational. The rest are fee-charging private schools, mostly Roman Catholic parochial schools.
Private schools are mostly single-sex schools.
Schooling is compulsory from the ages of 5 to 16. All plans lead to high school graduation at about 17 to 18 years of age. Many American children begin their schooling before enrolling in first grade . The word Kindergarten is the same as in German . They are usually public and co-educational.