The organization of U.S. education Formal education in the United States is divided into various stages or levels that follow one another somewhat like the rungs of a ladder. Pre-elementary education is the first rung of the educational ladder. It is followed by elementary education, secondary education, and higher education. Ordinarily, students complete one stage before they continue to the next. Thirty-two states require attendance through age 16, nine states and the District of Columbia through age 17, eight states through age 18, and one state through age 14.
Many states make exceptions to the age requirements.
In 17 states, for example, students fulfill the attendance requirements when they graduate from high school, even though they may not have reached the required age. In 16 states, completion of the eighth grade fulfills the requirements under certain conditions. It is a popular implement for writing, drawing, or marking. The hardness of a writing pencil is designated by a number from 1, the softest, to 4, the hardest. Artists' drawing pencils range from the softest, 8B, to the hardest, F. The designation for drafting pencils is from HB, the softest, to 10H, the hardest.