Middle school or junior high school serves as a "bridge" between elementary school and high school. The terms can be used in different ways in different countries, sometimes interchangeably. In Chinese language, especially China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, middle school is the synonym to secondary school.
Thus in some governmental and institutional contexts, "middle school" may be used as no more than an alternative name to "junior high school", or it might imply a pedagogical shift away from primary and secondary school practices. The concept of the name junior high dates back to 1909 with the founding of Indianola Junior High School in Columbus, Ohio. The concept of the name "middle school" dates back to 1950 from Bay City, Michigan.
Africa
Egypt
In Egypt Middle School is the school preceded by High school, It's called preparatory stage and consists of three stages first preparatory in which students are supposed to have more subjects than primary stage with different branches. In Second Prep. They are taught Science, Geography, History of Egypt starting by the Pharonic history, passing by the Coptic , Islamic and finally the modern history, Also they study three different languages, 1 is obligatory and 2 are chosen as first and second languages , Arabic is obligatory while students choose from English, French , German, Spanish, and Italian their first and second languages. They study also Mathematics, with different sections. Egyptian Middle School (PREP STAGE) lasts for three years. Students are given an overview about fields of studies they desire to study in the future.
Algeria
In Algeria, a middle school includes grades 6 through 9. consists of ages 10-14
Asia
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, education often does not last until middle school. Under the Taliban, girls were not allowed to attend school. Now, both boys and girls are allowed to attend school.
Iran
In Iran, middle school is considered as a 3 years period, grades 6,7 & 8. It is called guidance school (راهنمایی: Persian). This term mainly refers to the fact that students get enough information in this period and then can choose what to focus in high school i.e. math, natural science, social science and etc.
Lebanon
In Lebanon, middle school is considered as a 3 years period, grades 7,8 & 9. It is called middle school
India
In India, There is no specific school period called middle school. Grades 1-8 are considered elementary or primary. Grades 6-8 are considered Upper primary, grades 9-10 are called high school or secondary school. State education boards conduct exams for 8th grade. Those who did not make the mark will not be able to advance. National educational board conducts exams from 10 th and above, Again, Those who did not succeed in obtaining minimum marks will not advance. the high school equivalent of many other countries is called Inter-college(short for Intermediate college) in India. Many of the students determine the discipline during this time. Most graduate out of high school by 16 or 17. Students then take different kinds of entrance exams to enter in to different colleges. National board consists of grades 11-12 which are equivalent of Intermediate-college in state education. Some of the state education boards also follow this, however, it differs from one state to another. Most schools in India, especially ones which are in rural areas skip Kindergarten altogether.
People's Republic of China
In the People's Republic of China, junior middle schools (chuzhong or 初中) refer to the years of 13-15. It covers the last 3 years of the 9-year compulsory education. The 9-year compulsory education claims to be generally free of charge but in fact, at the school level, almost all schools may occasionally charge students books fee and some other fees, which are usually exempt for children of poorer families. At the end of the last year, students take exams to enter high school (gaozhong or 高中, high school students who prepare for the entrance of college are "college-bound"). Still, some others wishing to continue their training in a "hands-on" fashion may enter technical high school (中学专科/中专) or vocational school (职业学校).
Japan
In Japan, junior high schools, which cover years seven through nine, are called cyugakkou (中学校, literally, middle school). They are referred to as "junior high schools" in most conversations in English and are referred to by MEXT as "lower secondary schools". (See Secondary education in Japan.)
South Korea
In the Republic of Korea, a middle school is called joong-hakyo (중학교, 中學校, also literally meaning "middle school") which includes grades 7 through 9.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, children go to school at the age of three, starting from pre-school and kindergarten. At the age of six, they start Sekolah Dasar (grade school). They spend six years before continuing on to Sekolah Menengah Pertama (junior high school) for three years. After junior high school, they go to Sekolah Menengah Atas (senior high school) for three years, upon which they would be concentrated in either the science stream or the social science stream or language stream. Although compulsory education ends at junior high, most would pursue higher education in senior high, or even further at the collegiate level. There are around 22,000 middle schools in Indonesia with a balanced ownership between public and private sector.
Taiwan
Taiwanese junior high schools (3-year from 7th to 9th grade) were originally called chuzhong (初級中學, 初中; "primary middle school"). However, in August 1968, they were renamed guozhong (國民中學, 國中; "citizen middle school") when they became free of charge and compulsory. Private middle school nowadays are still called chuzhong . Taiwanese junior high schools are attended normally by those older than twelve. Accompanied with the switch from junior high to middle school was the cancellation of entrance examination needed to enter middle school.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, pre-schools (Kindergarten) are meant for children from 5–6 years old. 7-12 year old kids attend Sekolah Rendah (Primary School / Elementary School) from Standard 1 to Standard 6. There are three types of Sekolah Rendah according to the child's spoken language, Sekolah Kebangsaan (Malay), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina or better known as SJKC, (Chinese) and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT), (Tamil). 13-17 year old students study in Sekolah Menengah (secondary school / high school) and it is regarded as Form 1 to Form 5.
However, Form 1 to 3 students are called Pelajar Menengah Rendah (lower secondary students) and Form 4 to 5 are noted as Pelajar Menengah Tinggi (upper secondary students).
There are three major exams ,
Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (Standard 6) -5 Subjects,
Penilaian Menengah Rendah (Form 3) -7 subjects for non-Muslim students and 8 subjects for Muslim students, and
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Form 5) -subjects varying, according to the elective and extra subjects chosen by the students.Australia/Oceania
Australia
Most regions of Australia do not have middle schools, as students go directly from primary school to secondary school.
In 1996 and 1997, a national conference met to develop what became known as the National Middle Schooling Project, which aimed to develop a common Australian view of
- early adolescent needs
- guiding principles for educators
- appropriate strategies to foster positive adolescent learning.
The first middle school established in Australia was The Armidale School, in Armidale (approximately 570 km north of Sydney, 470 km south of Brisbane and approximately 170 km inland from the coast). Schools have since followed this trend, such as The King's School.
As of 2007, the Northern Territory has introduced a three tier system featuring Middle Schools for years 7-9 (approx ages 12–15) and high school year 10-12. (approx ages 15–18)
Many schools across Queensland have introduced a Middle School tier within their schools. The middle schools cover the grades/years 5 to 8.
Currently in Brisbane, Queensland, students do not go to middle school. Primary School covers preschool to year 7 (ages 5–12), and high school covers years 8 to 12 (ages 13–17.)
New Zealand
In New Zealand intermediate schools cover years 7 and 8 (formerly known as form 1 and 2, with children aged 11–12) in areas where the local primary schools teach year 1 to year 6 students. Many primary schools however, do teach year 7 and 8. These primary schools may have a relationship with a nearby intermediate school to teach manual training classes, such as woodwork. Highschool then runs from year 9 to year 13 Recently, however, Junior High Schools covering years 7-10 (the four years between primary and NCEA, the national secondary qualification) have been established. The first was Albany Junior High School in Albany, Auckland.
Europe
Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia