Teachers School High Teach Students Public States Require

High school teachers help prepare students for life after "graduation" (completion of their degree). They teach "academic" (related to reading, math, science and other traditional school subjects) lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the "job market" (group of people available and looking for work).

High school teachers generally teach students from the ninth through twelfth (9-12) grades to students between 13 and 19 years of age. They usually teach one or two of the subjects or classes a student has throughout the day. For example, they may teach U.S. government and history.

Most high school teachers work in either public or private schools. All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed, which is frequently referred to as a "certification." Those who teach in private schools are not required to be licensed.

Requirements for certification vary by state. All states require public high school teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree. Most states require high school teachers to have "majored in" (had as the focus of their university study) a content area, such as chemistry, English, or history. While majoring in a content area, future teachers typically also "enroll in" (register for) a teacher preparation program and take classes in education while in college.