> AP.
>
> (*) our school system is:
> primary ("elementary") school, mandatory by law, from the age of 6, for 5 years;
> secondary ("middle") school, mandatory by law, for 3 years;
> high school, optional, for 5 years;
> university (usually 5 years, some degrees complete in 3 or 4 years).

Our school system (in Alberta, Canada, and I think it's similar in the States and most other Canadian provinces) is:

-Kindergarten (ages 5-6), optional, you pay a nominal fee, not available everywhere, you don't learn much of anything ("how to share" and suchlike). Pretty much provincially-sponsored daycare, but some educational theorists say that it's important.
-Elementary school (6 years from age six or seven), mandatory (and free). You learn to read, write, and do basic math. Teachers also teach you about other stuff of interest (like computers). Actually, I think computers are mandatory now.
-Junior High School (3 years), mandatory (and free). You can get homework in Elementary school, but /by law/ they have to give you at least some class time or teacher help on your homework until you get into Junior High. Basically, more advanced writing or literature, more advanced math. You get to pick options.
-High School (3 years), mandatory (for a total so far of 12 mandatory years of school), and free. Lots of homework. Lots of options. You can persue pretty much any subject but are required to do some history, literature, math, and science. At the advanced levels, the high-school level education covers everything up to and including the first year at University.
-University. Optional. Partially provincially-funded in Canada, you pay the whole thing in the States. Students generally need to get loans if their parents didn't provide an Education fund for them. Most degrees in 4 years; some take 5 (especially with co-op, where you spend part of the time working for companies instead of studying).

What I find most interesting is, first of all, that your schooling is optional after only eight years; and secondly that it takes 20-21 years to finish a University degree (from "scratch"). If you don't take kindergarten, which most people don't, that's a good two years more than in Canada.