In the United States, middle school (also called junior high school) typically includes students in grades 6 to 8, with students around the age of 11 to 13. However, some schools may include grade 5 or grade 9 in their middle school or junior high school programs. In general, middle school is a development-focused learning environment that encourages students to explore a variety of subjects and electives in order to build knowledge and confidence in their abilities. The primary focus of middle school education is developing social, emotional, organizational, and interpersonal skills in students.