High school movement facts for kids

The high school movement was a big change in education in the United States. It happened between 1910 and 1940. During this time, many new secondary schools (high schools) were built. More and more young people started going to high school.

Before this movement, not many teens went to high school. In 1910, only about 18% of 15- to 18-year-olds were in high school. By 1940, this number jumped to 73%! Most young people also earned a high school diploma. This movement helped students learn skills for life, not just for college. It started in New England and quickly spread across the country.

Why High Schools Grew So Fast

The United States had a unique way of building schools.

Schools for Everyone

America was different from Europe and Russia in how it offered education. In the U.S., high schools were free and easy to get into. This was true for most white students. In Europe, secondary schools often cost money. They also had tough entrance exams. This made them harder to access.

Local Decisions Helped Growth

In the U.S., small local areas decided to build schools. This created a kind of competition. Each area wanted to attract families. So, they built schools quickly. In Europe, the main government made all the decisions. This made things slower.

Skills for Life

American high schools were designed to help students get ready for jobs. They focused on general skills. They also helped people move up in society. This was different from Europe. There, schools often trained people for specific jobs. By 1955, most young Americans had graduated from high school.

How the Movement Changed Lives

The high school movement had a big impact on many people.

More Opportunities for Women

From 1930 to 1950, more women started working outside the home. The knowledge and skills they learned in high school helped them get better jobs. Women often had more education than men early in the 20th century. They went to and graduated from high school more often.

Changes for Men After War

After the 1910s and 1920s, men started to catch up in education. Many men could go to college using the G.I. Bill. This was a special program for soldiers after World War II. It helped more men go to college. This meant fewer women went to college during the middle of the century.

Challenges for African Americans

The increase in education was not the same for everyone. African American students had very low high school enrollment rates. This was especially true in the Southern states. Schools were not integrated yet. There were few high schools for African American students until the 1930s. The few schools that existed were mostly in cities. Most African Americans lived in rural areas.

Immigrants and Job Opportunities

Some big cities in the industrial North had lower high school enrollment at first. These cities had many new immigrants from Europe. These immigrants were not as likely to enroll in high school. Also, there were many job openings for young people. This meant some teens chose to work instead of going to school.

Education Growth Over Time

The number of educated Americans grew a lot from 1900 to about 1980. This growth came from local communities building public schools. It was not a rule from the government. After 1980, the growth of educated Americans slowed down. This slowdown has been biggest for people with lower incomes. It has also affected ethnic and racial minorities more.