Elementary vs. Secondary Education: Which is Right For You?

As you consider your options for a career in education and the right education pathway to get there, you will need to make the decision between studying elementary education vs. secondary education. While both put you in the classroom in front of students, they have their own educational pathways and focuses. Making this choice early in your college education journey will simplify your course selection and keep you on track.

What Is the Difference Between Elementary vs. Secondary Education?

The primary difference between elementary and secondary education is the age range of the students you will teach. Elementary education focuses on the needs of students who are middle school age or younger. Most programs equip teachers to teach kindergarten students and older, but some will include a preschool component. Secondary education focuses on training teachers to instruct middle school through high school.

What Do Elementary Education Majors Study?

Elementary teachers are in a unique position — unlike single-subject teachers (i.e. history or English) in middle and high school, elementary school teachers teach all the subjects. This means they need to have a basic knowledge of language arts, math, social studies, and science.

To prepare teachers well for this role, education programs for elementary educators will have instruction in all major subject areas. In addition, these programs will cover instructional methods, special needs students, educational psychology, and general education.

What Do Secondary Education Majors Study?

Secondary education majors also study instructional methods, special needs students, educational psychology, and general education topics. However, for their subject area instruction, these teachers typically focus on one primary subject area, such as math, English, history, or science. When they get to the classroom, they will typically teach just one subject to specific grade levels. However, some may teach the same subject across multiple grade levels throughout the day.

How to Choose Between Elementary Education vs. Secondary Education

As you consider a potential teaching career, there are many reasons that a secondary education or elementary education degree might be the right choice for you. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of each to determine which fits your goals and personality.

What Do Elementary Teachers Do?

Elementary teachers are responsible for planning and executing lesson plans. They do most of their own grading, set up a positive classroom environment, and maintain order through classroom discipline. They must be available to meet the social and emotional needs of young children as well. Much of their day is involved with assessment, and they will spend quite a bit of time communicating with parents and administration.

Elementary teachers focus on providing information to students while building the fundamental skills they need for future education. In the earliest ages, students are not developmentally ready to do large amounts of critical thinking, but they are poised to retain large amounts of information. This is also the time when you can inspire students to fall in love with learning.

With the youngest levels, much of the work of the elementary teacher is reading instruction. Reading is foundational to future education, so it takes up a large portion of the educational day. Math is also important at these early levels, and science and social studies, while present, will often be a smaller portion of the day. This will transition as the student moves up into the higher levels of elementary and has a better understanding of reading.

Who Would Enjoy a Career in Elementary Education?

As you consider elementary education, decide whether or not you picture yourself teaching young children. Someone who would thrive in elementary education may have the following character traits:

• Patience: It can take quite a bit of repetition for young children to learn subject matter well, so patience is important when teaching this age range.
• Creativity: From decorating the classroom to intervening in behavior concerns, elementary teachers need a high level of creativity.
• Broad Subject Knowledge: You must be able to teach most major subject areas to teach this grade range.
• Enjoys Young Children: There are unique needs and interests of young children. Good elementary teachers will be those who enjoy younger kids.
• Flexibility: It takes mental flexibility to shift from teaching reading to teaching math in the same hour.

What Does a Secondary Education Teacher Do?

Secondary education teachers focus on teaching pre-teens and teenagers. These older students are capable of more advanced critical thinking and may not need quite as much step-by-step guidance as younger students. Like elementary teachers, secondary teachers spend time preparing and presenting lessons, grading student work, and assessing student progress. They will communicate with parents and administration, collaborate with other teachers, and ensure students are moving forward as they should through their coursework.

On the secondary level, the curriculum gets more detailed and starts working through problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Instead of simply giving students information, you will begin asking the students to analyze and report on that information. Your goal at this level is to prepare students for their future, whether that is a career or moving on to college.

Secondary education teachers focus on one primary subject area. They may teach multiple grade levels, depending on how many grades are in their school, but rarely dabble in other subjects.

Who Would Enjoy a Career in Secondary Education?

If you have a passion for a particular subject and feel that your skills align better with teaching older children, secondary education might be the right choice for you. Someone who would thrive in secondary education may have the following character traits:

• Subject Area Passion: You will be teaching the same subject throughout the day, so you will be best suited for this role if you enjoy that subject.
• Enjoys Teenagers: If you find teenagers enjoyable to work with, then you will do well.
• Adaptable: The day-in and day-out work of secondary education is constantly changing, and you will need to adapt lessons to the needs and abilities of your students.
• Effective Disciplinarian: You will need effective disciplinary strategies targeted at teens.
• Positive Attitude: A positive attitude will transfer to your students and will help you become an inspiration to your students and the other teachers in your school.
• Creativity: Teaching teenagers often requires coming up with engaging and innovative ways to present material.

Career Outlook for Elementary and Secondary Education

The demand for qualified teachers remains strong across both elementary and secondary education. However, there are some differences in job prospects and opportunities depending on the level you choose to pursue.

Elementary Education Career Outlook

The need for elementary school teachers in California remains strong due to the state's large and growing population. In California, the demand for teachers is expected to continue rising slightly as the state’s population increases and more teachers retire or leave the profession, causing a teacher shortage.

California also offers opportunities for elementary teachers in charter schools, private schools, and specialized educational programs. Those with skills in bilingual education or special education are particularly in demand, reflecting the diverse student population and specific educational needs of the state.

Secondary Education Career Outlook

The career outlook for secondary education teachers in California is similarly positive. Employment demand is projected to be strong, particularly in high-demand subject areas such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), special education, and foreign languages.

Secondary education teachers are needed across the state, with significant demand in large metropolitan areas as well as in rural and underserved communities. The focus on preparing students for college and careers also drives demand for teachers with expertise in career and technical education (CTE) subjects.

Get Started on Your Education Degree with UMass Global Online Today!

If you are interested in pursuing a degree in education, you will find a number of options at UMass Global, all of which are aligned with the teaching credentials necessary in California. A BA in Liberal Studies, Multiple Subject Teaching is a good option for elementary teachers, while a BA in Early Childhood Education can work well for elementary school teachers striving to only teach students under 8 years old. Our Single Subject Teaching Credential is perfect for those looking to teach in a middle or high school. Learn more about these degrees and apply to UMass Global to start your career path as an educator today.