Just like in the United States, secondary school in Rwanda consists of Grades 7–12, although grades are called S-1 thru 6. Children often begin school later in Rwanda than in the United States, due to a variety of reasons. You will see older ages reflected with our students. Keep in mind the grade equivalencies are as follows:

School is very expensive to afford in the country, which has been ranked among the poorest in the world. As estimated by USAID Rwanda, the average annual salary in Rwanda is $370. It can be nearly impossible for students to afford secondary school education, where the average yearly cost for tuition alone is $350.