One difference between middle school and high school is that middle school has younger students than high school, as middle school consists of 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, and junior high school consists of 7th and 8th grades.
The transfer and diffusion of values, skills and knowledge from one person to another are defined as education. This helps mould an individual’s character, mind, personality, and physical abilities. All of this can be experienced in the daily life of an individual. Educational institutions like schools, universities and colleges are responsible for the formal implementation of education.
The difference between middle school and high school is that middle school focuses more on the broader scope of social, emotional, organizational, and personality development along with general subjects. At the same time, the high school focuses more on the subjects taught to the students and the mental development of those students.
The preschool level is the level at which formal education begins. Then it goes to the primary or elementary level, then to the secondary level and then to the universities and other higher levels. Before reaching the higher levels, a person must first pass all the lower levels of education.
Some educational institutes require students to complete and pass a middle school or high school to attend and go on to high school. At the same time, some institutes do not require such things, and students automatically go to high school after completing their studies.
Middle School vs. High School Comparison Chart
Comparison Parameters | Middle School | High School |
Main Focus | High school focuses more on the broader scope consisting of social, emotional, organizational and personality development along with the general subjects. | High school focuses more on the subjects being taught to the students and also on the mental development of those students. |
Classes | The middle school offers more exploratory classes and electives. | The high school offers subject-based academic classes as well as elective classes. |
Calendar | High school has a more flexible schedule. | High school has a traditional six or eight period day. |
Education | The middle school has a student-oriented education. | Secondary school has a subject-oriented education. |
Classes | The middle school has classrooms organized by grade level. | The high school has classrooms organized by subject areas. |
What is Middle School?
A school between elementary school and high school is called a middle school. The middle school contains sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students. Unlike elementary school, where only two or three teachers teach students, multiple teachers teach different subjects to the same group of students in middle school. The number of subjects, in general, is six.
Additionally, students are often given a choice in some subjects and can attend any subject they wish. It has a broader scope of organizational, emotional, personality and social development. High school teachers work together in groups and teach all students the subjects they are designated to teach.
Different teachers are assigned to different grades and teach different subjects to students. The middle school has a block scheduling system. Classes are divided into periods. Each day can have six or eight periods depending on the school schedule.
What is High School?
High school is also a school between elementary school and high school. The goal of high school is the same as that of high school, which is to prepare and educate students for high school studies, but the focus and main focus are different from that of high school. Secondary schools are more subject-oriented than student-oriented.
Its main focus is teaching students all subjects and developing their mental skills such as applying learning, problem-solving, and other life skills. The teachers assigned to a specific group of students are random.
They teach students the subjects assigned to them. The high school also has regular classes with the same classes every school day. The high school is made up of 7th and 8th-grade students.
Main Difference Between Middle School and High School
- High school focuses on social, emotional, organizational and personality development and all general subjects. At the same time, the high school focuses on subjects taught to students and the mental development of students.
- The middle school offers more exploratory classes and electives, while the high school offers different subject-based academic classes and elective classes.
- The middle school has classrooms organized by grade level, while the high school has classrooms organized by subject.
- Middle school has a more flexible schedule, while high school has a six or eight-period day.
- Middle school has a student-oriented education, while the high school has a subject-oriented education.
Conclusion
Both middle school and high school are two systems that have the same goal: to educate students for higher levels of education. They both have different approaches and differ in the quality and type of education they offer to the students.
Secondary teachers focus primarily on teaching the normal subjects only and offer help to students with memory and cognitive development. They also help them in processing information. On the other hand, secondary school teachers focus primarily on helping students in their organizational and social development.
They also help the students in their emotional and personality formation and teach them the usual subjects. Middle school classes are divided into periods and have a six or eight period day. You can attend these classes on alternate days. High schools have a regular schedule and the same classes every day for all students.
Courtesy: Queens College