 Schools and Curriculum Public School A public school is a school that is paid for by taxes. All public schools are free. Most communities have public schools. Any child can attend a public school. Private school A private school is a school that is paid for by the parents of students. Not every community has a private school. Some private schools are very expensive. Tuition Tuition is the money a student has to pay to go to school. Students who attend private school, college, or universities pay tuition. Uniform A uniform is special clothing worn by students. Students participating in sports or clubs may wear a team uniform. Most private schools require students to wear uniforms. Subject A subject is a class or area of study. Math, science, language arts, and social studies are examples of school subjects. Mathematics Mathematics or math is the study of numbers and calculations. Math subjects include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Language arts or English Language arts or English is the study of reading, writing, and literature. Students in language arts classes read and discuss books. They also write paragraphs and essays. Social studies Social studies is the study of history, economics, geography, or psychology. Students in high school study world history, American history, and economics. Science Science is the study of biology, chemistry, or physics. Students in high school study all three of these subjects. Physical education PE Physical education, or PE, is the study of exercise. In physical education classes, students learn the proper way to exercise. They also learn about different kinds of sports. Elective An elective class is a class that students can choose to take. Art, music, and foreign language classes are examples of elective classes. Semester A semester is a school term that is 15 to 18 weeks long. Some colleges and public schools have classes that are a semester long. Quarter A quarter is a school term that is 10 to 12 weeks long. Classes at Washington Community Colleges are held for a quarter. Most public schools have four quarters of classes. The end.