How many years of school do Chinese children attend?

Chinese children attend 12 years of compulsory education. This includes:

* 9 years of basic education: 6 years of primary school and 3 years of junior high school.

* 3 years of senior high school: This is optional but highly encouraged for students who want to attend university.

Note: This is the standard length of education in mainland China. There may be variations in other regions, like Hong Kong and Taiwan.