HighSchoolInAmerica,aftermiddleschoolcomeshighschool,whichincludesgrades9through12.StudentsarerequiredtotakecertainsubjectslikeEnglish,socialstudies,math,science,andphysicaleducation.Inaddition,theychooseamongelectivesubjectstocompletetheirhighschooleducation.Electivesincludesubjectsintechnology,music,art,andforeignlanguages.

　　Eachstudentintheschoolhastheirownlockerforbooksandpersonalitems.Thisconveniencesavesstudentsfromcarryingtextbooks,andallowsstudentsasmallspacetheycandecoratewithpostersandfavoriteobjects.

　　CheatinginanyformisstrictlyprohibitedinAmericanschools.Andinfact,highschoolstudentsusuallydon‘tcheat.Astudentcaughtinplagiarism,forgery,orcopyinganotherstudentfacesseverediscipline,evenexpulsion.

　　SchoolActivitiesEachschoolholdscertainyearlyactivitiesfortheentireschoolbody,suchashomecoming,promnight,holidaycelebrations,etc.

　　Homecomingiscelebratedeachfall,usuallyonaweekend,andeventsleadinguptoitmaylastallweek.Whilehomecomingiscelebrateddifferentlyateachschool,itusuallyincludesaparadeandthecrowningoftheHomecomingKingandQueen,andendswithafootballgameandschooldance.

　　Thepromisaformaldanceforstudentsingrades11and12,andisgenerallyanticipatedasthemostimportantsocialeventoftheschoolyear.Itcanalsobeatimeofanxiety,asboyshavetoworkupthecouragetoaskadatetotheprom,andgirlshopetherightboyinvitesthem.Thesecouplesdressinformalclothes—girlsinlonggowns,boysinsuits.Somestudentsevenarrangealimousineanddriverfortheirgroupoffriendstoarriveinstyle!Attheprom,studentsdance,havesnacksanddrinks,andchat.PromusuallyendswithaPromKingandQueenbeingannouncedandcrownedonstagebeforeanenviousaudience.

　　BesideshostingeventsforholidayyssuchastheFourthofJulyandHalloween,individualhighschoolsoftenhavetheirownspecialevents.Onedaymightbe“InsideOut/BackwardsDay,”wherestudentsandteachersshouldweartheirclothesreversedallday,perhapswalkandspeakbackwards,andevengotoclassesinoppositeorder.Andsomeschoolsholdcontestswhere,ifcertainacademicgoalsaremet,theprincipalwillkissapig,shavehismustache,ordressasawomanfortheday.

　　SportsMosthighschoolshaveatleastonesportsteamthatcompetesinlocalevents,andallstudentsareencouragedtobeinvolvedinathletics.Schoolsoftenofferfootball,baseballandsoftball,basketball,volleyball,tennis,andsoccer.Somemayevenhavesportslikegolf,swimming,gymnasticsandcross-countryskiing.

　　JobsManyhighschoolstudentshavepart-timejobsbytheageof15or16,someevenearlier.Theirfirstjobsareoftenbabysittingorcuttinglawns,butlatertheywilllikelygetajobatafast-foodrestaurant,videostore,orclothingshop.

　　DrivingSixteenyearsoldislegaldrivingageinmoststates,andstudentsusuallywanttoownacarassoonastheycan.Someparentsallowtheirchildrentodriveafamilyvehicle,andmayevenbuyacarasagraduationpresent.Otherspreferthattheirsonsanddaughtersearnenoughtopurchaseausedvehicle.Regardless,manyteenagersfeelit‘sanecessitytoownacar,andwilldowhateverittakestobeabletodrive.