Well, I can't comment on history lessons in the US, as I obviously didn't go to school there. Here in the UK, we typically get everything from the Norman conquest of 1066, the Middle Ages, Tudors, Civil War (with Charles I and Cromwell), and the Industrial Revolution. World War II and the Holocaust is also compulsory. After that, if you elect to continue studying, the history lessons vary. I studied the French Revolution, Napoleonic wars, a lot of 19th Century history, and the origins of the First World War. I also studied some American history - mostly the War of Independence, but a few other bits and pieces too.

I've since learned a lot (through personal research) about the Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, and especially the history of the Middle East. You're right when you say if you have a passion for history, you continue to learn as a lifelong study. I also know tons about the history of the church, especially in Europe (the Reformation, etc).