How are Colombian school grades grouped? Cancel Title is required

In Colombia, how are school grades grouped? Which are elementary, middle school, high school? (My sponsored girl in Guatemala recently started a career track which is 10th and 11th grade, no 12th; I wonder what to expect in Colombia?) Also, which years in Colombia are covered by govt and which have to be paid? Or does it vary by region?

(I know that school in Colombia starts in February.)

Pulled what I had from when I sponsored there:

School year runs last week Jan/early Feb through the end of Nov.

Elementary is 1st through 6th with 1st started at 5 or 6 years old. Middle is 7th through 9th. HS is 10th and 11th - most of the programs at this level are vocational.

They seem to make up for the lost HS year by having 5 year university degrees.

Primary education only became free and compulsury in Columbia in 2010 and charging for primary schooling is illegal there now.

The number of HS graduates increased 50% from 2002 to 2010 and the government is investing considerable funds into education. Currently ~35% of college age people attend college.

None of my Columbian kids stayed in the program long enough to finish elementary school, so somebody else will have to help with what ACTUALLY happens when they finish 6th. As I've seen with my Guatemalan kids, one attends HS with no cost to me and one attends and needs only bus fare . . . so "not free" has actually not ended meaning I had to pay anything, while others (like Eyra) have needed school paid for. It seems to vary widely in Guat, so hopefully others have practical experience to offer also

School in Colombia is (supposed to be) mandatory for all children from 5 to 15 years old.

They don't have 12th grade in Colombia either, highschool ends with 11th grade.

Only elementary school is free, and although the government has plans to make it free until 11th grade too, that only started last year in Bogota, but I don't know how it has spread to other cities (I'll do some research and keep you posted if I find out anything else)

The ministry of education officially declares three groups:

• Basic Primary School: 1st to 5th grade
• Basic Secundary School: 6th to 9th grade
• Middle School: 10th and 11th grade --> There are two types: "Academic" and "Technical" (the first one is the traditional one, and the second is more focused on a specific sector, preparing the students for a practical job)

Most schools combine "Basic Secundary School" and "Middle School" in what's called "Bachillerato" (total 6 years), and depending on the school, the complete "Bachillerato" will have an academic or a technical focus.

The school year in public schools also starts in February and ends in November.