Primary education in the United States

Preschool programs, which are less formal and usually not mandated by law, are generally not considered part of primary education.

Twelve states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Vermont) as well as the District of Columbia offer some form of universal pre-kindergarten according to the Education Commission of the States (ECS).

Head Start also works to educate the whole child in addition to providing health and nutrition services to low-income families.

Additionally, students may have the option of attending elementary schools that include all eight primary grades.

Well-financed schools can hire specialists to provide instruction in specific subject matter like art, music, and science; at such schools, a teacher will hand off their entire class to specialists for such units and then resume supervision of the class afterwards.