How does the american education system work?

In terms of what age people do what etc? What grades are (5th grad 6th grade etc)? I'm from UK but watch a lot of american programs involving high school and it confuses me. Please help.

To start with, American television washes everyone's brains long before we get into school (See Sponge Bob)

We have 12 years of education compulsory including Elementary from Kindergarten to 6th Jr High School for 7th and 8th and Senior High generally called high school (named after the musical)

We have college just like in Europe. It is Free at Free Open University one of the best schools or you can pay for college with loans that follow you all your life because you never seem to be able to pay them off.

Most people go to preschool, then enter kindergarten, usually that school goes K-8. However some break up the grades into K-4, 5-8, or k-4 5-6 7-8.

then High School being 9-12

12th grade(senior) - 17 & 18

11th - 16 & 17

etc.

Special cases are made sometimes, so people can skip or go down a grade, which will make them younger or older respectively to the people in their grade.

American public education is retarded.......to keep people stupid enough so that they can get brainwashed later