Middle school, also known as intermediate school, senior public school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school.
Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes grades 6, 7, and 8, consisting of students from ages 11 to 14.
Algeria In Algeria, a middle school includes 4 grades: 6, 7, 8, and 9, consisting of students from ages 11–15.
Argentina
The of secondary education (ages 11–14) is roughly equivalent to middle school.
Australia
No states of Australia have separate middle schools, as students go directly from primary school (for years K/preparatory–6) to secondary school (years 7–12, usually referred to as high school).
As an alternative to the middle school model, some secondary schools classify their grades as "middle school" (years 5, 6, 7, 8 where primary and secondary campuses share facilities or 7, 8, 9 in a secondary campus) or "junior high school" (years 7, 8 and 9) and "senior high school" (years 10, 11 and 12). Some have three levels, "junior" (years 7 and 8), "intermediate" (years 9 and 10), and "senior" (years 11 and 12). Some schools run a specialised year 9 program separate from the other secondary year levels.
In 1996 and 1997, a national conference met to develop what became known as the National Middle Schooling Project, which aimed to develop a common Australian view of: early adolescent needs guiding principles for educators appropriate strategies to foster positive adolescent learning The first middle school established in Australia was The Armidale School, in Armidale. Other schools have since followed this trend.
The Northern Territory has introduced a three tier system featuring middle schools for years 7–9 (approximately ages 13–15) and high school year 10–12 (approximately ages 16–18).
Many schools across Queensland have introduced a middle school tier within their schools. The middle schools cover years 5 to 8.
Bangladesh In Bangladesh, middle school is not separated as in other countries. Generally, schools are from grade 1 to grade 10. It means primary (1–5), secondary (6 – 10). Class 6–8 is thought of as middle school. Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are said to be primary school while all the classes from 6 to 10 are considered high school (as middle school and high school are not considered separate) while 11–12 (inclusive) is called college. 1–5 is known as primary 6–10 is known as secondary 11–12 is known as higher secondary also known as college
Bolivia Middle schools in Bolivia have been abolished since 1994. Students aged 11–15 attend the last years of elementary education or the first years of secondary education.
Brazil In Brazil, middle school is known as "Ensino Fundamental II" and is a mandatory stage that precedes high school () consisting of grades 6 to 9, ages 11 to 14.
Canada
In Canada, the terms "middle school", "senior public school", "junior high school" are all used, depending on which grades the school caters to. Junior high schools tend to include only grades 7, 8, and sometimes 9 (some older schools with the name 'carved in concrete' still use "Junior High" as part of their name, although grade nine is now missing), whereas middle schools are usually grades 6–8 or only grades 7–8 or 6–7 (i.e. around ages 11–14), varying from area to area and also according to population vs. building capacity.
Another common model is grades 5–8. Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island junior high schools typically include grades 7–9, with the first year of high school traditionally being grade 10. In some places students go from elementary school to secondary school, meaning the elementary school covers to the end of grade 8.
In Ontario, the terms "middle school" and "senior public school" (sometimes just grades 7 and 8) are used, with the latter being used particularly in the Old Toronto and Scarborough sections of Toronto plus in Mississauga, Brampton, and Kitchener-Waterloo. In many smaller Ontario cities and in some parts of larger cities, most elementary schools serve junior kindergarten to grade 8 meaning there are no separate middle schools buildings, while in some cities (such as Hamilton) specific schools do serve the intermediate grades (i.e. grades 6–8 or grades 7–8) but are still called "elementary" or "public" schools with no recognition of the grades they serve in their name.
In the province of Quebec, there is no middle school section; post-elementary grade 6, the secondary level has five grades, called Secondary I to Secondary V (grades 7 to 11).
Chile
There is no separate "middle school" in Chile, but encompasses both elementary and middle schools; it covers grades 1 to 8, students from ages 6 to 14.
China
In the People's Republic of China, primary school covers grades 1–6 and secondary school covers grades 7–12. Secondary schools are further divided into two stages, junior high school ( or , grades 7–9) and senior high school ( or ), grades 10–12). The Chinese junior high school is roughly equivalent to an American middle school, and provides the last 3 years of the nine-year compulsory education required for all Chinese citizens. The senior high school is optional but considered as critical preparation for tertiary education.
The admissions for most students to enrol in senior secondary schools from the junior stage are on the basis of the scores that they get in "Senior High School Entrance Exam",Commonly referred as the "Middle Exam" (). which are held by local governments. Other students may bypass the exam, based on their distinctive talents, like athletics, leadership merits or excellent coursework performance in junior stage.
Colombia
Secondary education is divided into basic secondary (grades 6 to 9) and mid-secondary (grades 10 and 11). The students in basic secondary, roughly equivalent to middle school, are 11 or 12 to 15 or 16 years old.
Cuba
(basic secondary, seventh through ninth grades) is the approximate equivalent of middle school in Cuba.
Cyprus In Cyprus, the equivalent period to middle school is called ( 'gymnasium'), which caters to children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. This is followed by (, 'lyceum'), for ages 16 to 18.
Czech Republic In the Czech Republic after completing the nine-year elementary school (compulsory school attendance) a student may apply for high school or grammar school.Czech Act No. 561/2004 Collection of Law, on Pre-school, Basic, Secondary, Tertiary Professional and Other Education (the Education Act)
Students have the opportunity to enroll in high school from Grade 5 or (less commonly) Grade 7 of elementary school, spending eight or six years respectively at high school that otherwise takes four years. Thus they can spend five years in elementary school, followed by eight in high school. The first four years of the eight-year study program at high school are comparable with junior high school. Gymnasium focuses on a more advanced academic approach to education. All other types of high schools except gymnasiums and conservatories (e.g. lyceums) accept only students that finished Grade 9.
Ecuador
The 4th and last level of (ages 12–14) is roughly equivalent to middle school.
Egypt In Egypt, middle school precedes high school. It is called the preparatory stage and consists of three phases: first preparatory in which students study more subjects than primary with different branches. For instance, algebra and geometry are taught instead of "mathematics." In the second preparatory phase, students study science, geography, the history of Egypt starting with pharaonic history, including Coptic history, Islamic history, and concluding with modern history. The students are taught two languages, Arabic and English. Middle school (preparatory stage) lasts for three years.
France In France, the equivalent period to middle school is collège, which lasts four years from the ("sixth," the equivalent of the Canadian and American Grade 6) to the ("third," the equivalent of the Canadian and American Grade 9), accommodating pupils aged between 11 and 15. Upon completion of the latter, students are awarded a if they obtain a certain number of points on a series of tests in various subjects (French, history/geography, mathematics, physics/chemistry), but also on a series of skills completed during the last year and on oral examinations (e.g. about cross-subject topics on which they work during the final year of collège). They can then enter high school (called ), which lasts three years from the to the until the , and during which they can choose a general or a vocational field of study.
Georgia
In Georgia, the equivalent period to middle school covers ages 12 to 15, from the 6th grade to the 9th and guarantees basic educational degree certificate.
Greece
In Greece, the equivalent period to middle school is called (, 'gymnasium'), which caters to children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade.
India
In India, Middle School is classified as Upper Primary (Class 6–8). Each state has its own State Board. Each has its own standards, which might be different from the Central Boards. In some institutions, providing education for 5th to 10th is known as a secondary school.
The levels of education in India are: Pre-Primary – Nursery to KG Primary (Lower Primary) – Classes I to V Middle School (Upper Primary) – Classes VI to VIII High school – Classes IX to X Higher Secondary (PUC or Intermediate or Plus Two) – Classes XI to XII
Indonesia
In Indonesia, middle school () covers ages 12 to 15 or grade 7 to grade 9.
Although compulsory education ends at junior high, most pursue higher education. There are around 22,000 middle schools in Indonesia with a balanced ownership between public and private sector.
Iran Iran calls Middle School Guidance School, which caters to children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th and 9th grade.
Iraq Middle school in Iraq, which is most commonly referred to as Intermediate school, enrolls children between the ages 12 and 15, i.e. 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. Upon completion of the 9th grade, students take the National Intermediate Baccalaureate Examination, which when passed, students get the option to enter either secondary general or vocational school.
Israel In most of the cities in Israel, middle school (Hebrew: ) covers ages 12 to 15 (7th-9th grade).
Italy In Italy the equivalent is the formerly and commonly called lower middle school (), often shortened to middle school (). When the , the equivalent of high school, was formerly called higher middle school (), commonly called Superiori. The Middle School lasts three years from the student age of 11 to age 13. Since 2009, after Gelmini reform, the middle school was renamed (junior secondary school).
Jamaica Middle school does not exist in Jamaica. It is however from grade 7–9 so they would be in high school. (They also have a primary school (grades 1–6).)
Japan
(7th-9th grade) are for children aged twelve through fifteen years old.
Kosovo In Kosovo, "middle school" refers to educational institutions for ages between 14 and 18, and lasts 3–4 years, following elementary school (which lasts 8 or 9 years). "Gymnasiums" are the most prestigious type of "middle" school.
Kuwait In Kuwait, middle school is from grade 6–9 and from age 11–14.
Lebanon In Lebanon, middle school or intermediate school consists of grades 7, 8, and 9. At the end of 9th grade, the student is given the National diploma examination.
Malaysia