The Types of High Schools
General high school, Bachillerato General, is an academic, university preparatory program of studies which is the equivalent of the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the United States. The name of the school may include the word preparatoria.
Technical or technological high school, called Bachillerato Bivalente, Bachillerato Técnico, or Bachillerato Tecnológico, is a combination of academic and vocational classes that prepares students for university admission or entry-level jobs. The programs are three or four years in length.
Open High School, Bachillerato Abierto, is a national system which provides Bachillerato General classes with flexible scheduling for adults and working youth.
Upper Middle Education is offered in federal and state-supported public institutions, which do not charge tuition, and in private schools. Approximately 80 percent of the students attend publicly financed schools. In some states, the public university owns and operates one or more Bachilleratos
Historically there has been great diversity in the plans and programs of study, to the extent that it was often impossible for a student to transfer from one high school to another. In its Program for Educational Modernization 1989-1994, the SEP promoted national norms. In accordance with federal Resolutions 71 and 77, all accredited Mexican academic high schools should have met the following minimum requirements beginning school year 1994-1995:
- A three-year program of studies divided into six semesters
- Curricula divided into three general areas: a core curriculum; university preparatory classes related to the planned field of study; and vocational electives
- A minimum of 15 weeks per semester Despite the formation of national and state level commissions to study the situation, the SEP estimates that there still are more than 500 different plans of study.
Academic High School is offered in the following institutions: bachiller colleges, which are funded by state and federal funds; preparatoria schools and bachilleratos attached to state university systems; in Bachillerato Abierto; or by satellite.
Open High School, Bachillerato Abierto, is self-paced. There are no requirements as to the amount of time to complete a course or the order in which subjects are studied. Students may enroll at any time during the year, there is no entrance examination, and tuition is free 
Rural Preparatoria in Guerrero
Distance Upper Middle education is offered primarily to persons living in remote or sparsely populated areas. The Education Television Network of the SEP, EDUSAT, designs and broadcasts 85 programs for this level of education. The funding is shared by federal and state governments.
The State of Oaxaca has created a Bachillerato program delivered by satellite and designed to serve the indigenous communities. Technical Professional Education prepares human resources for mid-level jobs in the workplace. The Centers for Industrial and Services Technological Studies (CETIS) and the Centers for Industrial and Services Technological High School (CBTS) are institutions that train students for mid-level positions in the goods and services industries.
Technological Upper Secondary prepares students to enter the workforce as professional technicians while also preparing them for university level studies. The Centers for Industrial and Services Technological Studies (CETIS) and the Centers for Industrial and Services Technological Bachillerato (CBTIS) offer technological high school as well as professional technical training. Other public technological institutions include the Technological Farming and Agricultural Centers (CTBTA), the Technological Forestry Centers (CBTF), the Centers for Ocean Technological Studies (CETMAR), and the Centers for Continental Water Studies (CETAC).