In the United States, all children have the right to a free, public school education.
But why should you attend school anyway? We’ll tell you! In this article, we explain 6 reasons why going to school is a good idea.
Note: To learn more about the U.S. primary and secondary school system, how to register, and your rights as a student, check out this article.
1. It’s your right! And it’s the law.
In the U.S., all children are required by law to go to school until they are 16-17, depending on the state. (Note: the age that you must go to school until changes slightly by state. Make sure to check on the school age requirements in your state). Not attending school could cause legal problems for you and for your parent/sponsor/legal guardian.
Access to primary/secondary education is also a right, and it’s protected by federal law. You have the right to attend school no matter what country you were born in, no matter what your immigration status is, and no matter what language you speak. You do not have to provide information about your immigration status in order to register for school. Schools must provide access to secondary education to all students until the age of 19-20, also depending on the state.
For more information about your rights as a student, and on how to find a school and register, check out our article U.S. Public School: What do I need to know and how do I enroll?
2. Going to school can help you integrate into your new community.
School is a great place to meet people, make friends, and feel connected to the local community, especially if you have just moved to a new home. Beyond meeting people, school is also where you can learn the local language, learn slang and phrases that are used in your community, and learn more about the local culture!
There may also be other resources available to you, such as extracurricular/afterschool programs (outside of the normal school hours) or language tutoring that can help you gain the skills and tools for you to feel more comfortable in your new community.
3. Increase your future work opportunities.
Many jobs require a high school diploma to even apply. By finishing high school and receiving a diploma, you can open many more doors and work opportunities for yourself.
This can also mean access to better salaries, better work benefits, and even a greater possibility of finding a job that you are passionate about or that you enjoy!
4. Open doors to more education.
Just as a high school diploma is a requirement for a lot of jobs, it’s also a requirement if you want to go to college, university, or another type of post-graduate technical school. There are so many education opportunities after high school where you can learn life skills, technical skills, and career-specific skills.
To get admission to a college, university, or technical school, you will probably need to have a high school diploma, an academic transcript, and maybe written recommendations from your high school teachers.
For more information about education options after high school, check out our article* here (*coming soon).
5. You can learn important life skills.
Even if you aren’t sure if you want to study after high school, going to primary and secondary school is a great place to learn different skills that can help you be successful in so many different parts of life.
Go to school to develop skills like communication and how to connect with other people, how to think critically, how to organize your time, and so much more.
You can also learn skills that may help you navigate your journey to get legal status. For example, English language skills and communication skills will help you if you need to go to court or if you have an asylum interview.
6. It represents an excellent opportunity to connect with comprehensive resources and support services.
Going to school can be a great way to get connected to other support and resources that you need outside of school, such as help with housing, food, physical health and mental health support, etc. Connect with trusted adults at school who can give you advice, share information about local and community resources with you, and even help you with the application or sign-up process.
In some schools, it’s also possible to receive support services directly from the school, such as reduced price/free lunch, dental clinics, medical attention, and more.