Education in the United States is publicly funded at the local, state, and federal levels. Children can attend public schools, private schools, or be homeschooled. Education is divided into elementary school (ages 5-10), middle school (ages 10-14), and high school (ages 14-18). After high school, students may attend college, where they can earn associate's or bachelor's degrees. While college is expensive, financial aid is available. The U.S. education system faces challenges like inequality between low- and high-income areas and "teaching to the test." Organizations like Teach for America aim to address these issues.