The following text is supposed to help potential exchange students to get used to the American school system and to get to know the activities in which they can participate during their exchange year. It contains also basic information for other interested people.
The text is based on personal experience made during an exchange year. The organization (and the subjects you can take) at your high school may be different.

The American School System is built up pretty simple and straight. Before Elementary School most children go to Kindergarden or Pre-School. In Elementary School they spend their first six years of real school. After that the High School starts. First there is the Junior High School and then the actual Senior High School which we all know from the series on TV. The Senior High School goes from grade 9 through 12 (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior). The successful completion of the High School is necessary to go to College.

The organization of a High School
The daily routine at a High School
Subjects
Sports and Clubs

Every school has it’s own mission statement. With it the school states what they are trying to achieve or what they want the students to learn for life. In the following there are two examples of mission statements:

"The mission of our school is to present our students with opportunities for the full development of their mental, physical, emotional, social, and economic lifes. Because we believe in the essential dignity and equality of all persons in a multicultural diverse society, we strive to possess those values in our own lifes."

"Our mission is to encourage the growth of the intellectual, physical, vocational, creative, cultural, and social abilities of our students. Our commitment is to encourage lifelong learning so that our young people are prepared to effectively participate in their future as individuals and as members of society."

The school district is supervised by the school board. The school board has about eight members and they are responsible for all the regulations and rules a High School has.
The most powerful person at a High School is the principal. He’s supported by his assistant principal(s). Besides the principal there are also the coaches (especially the head coach of the football team) who have a great influence.

For the students the first person they go talk to whenever they have a problem is the guidance counselor. He has his own office – the guidance office. The guidance counselor helps students to choose their courses and supports them the best he can.

Every school district has it’s own bell schedule. There are also differences between elementary school, junior high, and senior high. Here’s a possible bell schedule for a (senior) high school:

As you can see, there’s not much time (4-5 minutes) to go to the locker to get your books for the next class and go to the next classroom. And at this time all the students want to get to their locker so the hallways are always very crowded.

The day starts with the warning bell. Everybody goes to his homeroom. First of all the students have to stand up and say the pledge:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
Homeroom is used to do paperwork (e.g. give the student a form that the parents have to fill out and sign) and for the announcements of the day (club meetings, sport events/practice) as well as the roll call. That means the teacher of every homeroom writes down the students who are absent so that the front office knows who’s not in school. Whoever gets to school late or was absent because of sickness first has to go to the front office and the parents have to sign the student in. Then the student gets an admission slip that has to be given to the next teacher. The parents also have to sign the student out if he has to leave school for any reason before it’s over.

After Homeroom the first course begins. The difference to most European schools is that in the USA you have the same subjects always at the same time every day. That means (e.g. if you take fist hour Math, second hour Physics and so on) you have from Monday through Friday (for at least half a year) in the first hour Math and in the second hour Physics...
After third hour you have time to go to lunch. At our school we were not allowed to leave the school area at any time before school was over. So we had to eat in the cafeteria. Students from poor families can get lunch for free or at least for reduced prices.

If you need to get out of your classroom for any reason (even if you just need to go to the toilet or get a drink of water) you have to ask for the hall pass. At our school is was a wooden sign with the name of the teacher on it. This is necessary for the teachers that are observing the hallway so that they can see which teacher let the student go out of class and they can see if somebody is not allowed to walk around (when he doesn’t have a hall pass).

The tests are usually multiple choice questions or matching. Sometimes you also have to fill in the blanks. The grading system is calculated by the percentage of the right answers:

A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 75 – 79
D = 70 – 74
F = 69 or below

A through D are sufficient grades while F is not sufficient. If you have an F at the end of the course you failed it and the credit won’t be given to you.
The grades are printed out and given to you every six weeks. That’s why there’s usually at least one test a week. But the tests are not as big and you also get grades for your homework or sometimes just for your attendance.

A student who maintains an average of 90 or above in all academic subjects is eligible for the "A" Honor Roll. The Honor Roll will be posted each six weeks. A student who maintains an average of 80 or above is eligible for the "A/B" Honor Roll.

At the High School you can choose all the subjects you want. There are only two restrictions:

1. Some exchange organizations demand that the exchange student takes a few subjects that they think are necessary (e.g. EF wants you to take American History and an English class).
2. The American students are required to have a certain amount of credits. So they have to take the classes that they are still missing to graduate. For example they need 4 math credits. That means they have to take four different math classes while they are attending high school (for each course they only get 1 credit)

Note for exchange students: if you want to graduate you should ask your guidance counselor to put you into 12^th grade and to tell you which subjects you have to take. Some schools do not let exchange students graduate.

American high schools have a wide range of courses you can choose from. If you go abroad for a year you should take advantage of it and enroll for some special subjects if you don’t have the opportunity at your school at home.

Foods: Prerequisites: None, 1 credit

Basic units of food including: General nutrition, food safety, sanitation, and consumerism. Students will practice food preparation skills as they prepare meals and individual foods including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, breads, and cereals.

Journalism: Prerequisites: None, 2 credits

This course is designed to allow students to explore the many aspects of journalism. Course content will focus on types of writing, types of publications, and student development of journalism skills. Students in this class will be expected to write and organize information for school news. Students will be required to attend activities for reporting purposes.

Advanced Woodworking: Prerequisites: introduction to industrial arts or teachers approval, 2 credits

This course will include the following: planning and designing, advanced joinery, machine safety, jigs and fixtures. Necessary for this work will be the study of types of furniture, cabinet construction, and wood turning. Each student will build a project.

Photography II: Prerequisites: Photography I, 1 credit

Photography II explores photography as an art form, increases camera and darkroom skills, and explores special effects. Student will be expected to attend school activities to use and enhance their photography skills. Students should have access to a 35mm camera. They will also need to purchase 8-10 rolls of film during the semester.

Sport at an American High School is as important as the other subjects. You have the chance to participate in one of the teams. Some sports are of course Football, Basketball, and Baseball. But there are (that depends on the school) also: Cross Country, Track, Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Ice Hockey, and a lot more.
If there’s an important football or basketball game the school usually organizes a Pep Rally. That’s an assembly of the whole school in the gym where the school band plays and the cheerleaders dance.
On week-ends almost the whole school goes to the football games. It is important to play a sport – that way it is easier to get to know lots of new people.

If you don’t like sports you have the chance to participate in one of the numerous clubs or in the band.
Some clubs are: Business Club, Chess Club, Drama Club, Library Club, Science Club, Photography Club and so on.
To play in the school band means that you get to play your instrument while walking over the football field. The school band also plays at Pep Rallies.