US Trends

what comes after elementary school

After elementary school, students typically move on to middle school (also called junior high in some places), and then later to high school.

What comes after elementary school?

In many countries, the usual sequence is:

  • Preschool or kindergarten (early years)
  • Elementary or primary school
  • Middle school or junior high (early secondary)
  • High school or upper secondary school
  • College, university, or vocational training (after high school)

So if you are asking “what comes after elementary school,” the next level is middle school or junior high, which is the start of secondary education.

Quick Scoop

  • In the U.S., kids usually go from elementary school to middle school (around ages 11–13), then to high school.
  • In many other countries, students go from primary school directly into a form of secondary school, which may be divided into different tracks or school types.
  • After high school, options include university, community college, or vocational schools that prepare you for specific jobs.

Simple example

Imagine you’re in 5th grade at an elementary school. The next fall, you might start 6th grade at a new building called a middle school, with more teachers, new subjects like science labs, and a schedule that feels a bit more like high school.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.