Education in New Zealand

     New Zealand's education is the 7th best in the world according to statistics. The different levels of education include primary school, intermediate school, and secondary school. It is much like here in the United States with elementary school, middle school, and high school. New Zealand has over 2,000 primary and secondary schools.

     Students in New Zealand start school at the age of six. Kids go to primary school from the age of six to eleven. Intermediate school is for pupils aged eleven to thirteen and secondary school is for ages thirteen to seventeen. The cost to attend these schools can range from $100-$500 which is very different than here in the United States. To leave school you have to at least be sixteen years of age.
     Like here in the United States, the school year in New Zealand has four terms. Their school lasts from February to December though. To graduate in New Zealand you have to pass a series of assessments to get a National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA).
     The common courses people in New Zealand have to take are very similar to the ones here. They have mathematics, science, social studies and physical education. They also have art, music, home economics, and languages. If you went to school in New Zealand, some sports you might play include swimming, basketball, rugby, sailing, volleyball, and cricket.
     At most high schools in New Zealand they require you to wear casual uniforms. A girl's uniform would consist of either a dress or a skirt and shirt. For a guy it is shorts and a shirt. Some schools in the United States require uniforms while others don't.
     A typical day for a high school student would include walking, biking, or riding a bus to school at 8:00 A.M. At 8:30 A.M. their first class of the day starts. Then at 1:00 P.M. the students eat lunch. Most people bring their lunch to school while others eat in the cafeteria. At 2:00 P.M. is the student's last class of the day. Then the students would go home or go to after school sports practices.