Piano learning in United States?

In our school district, they start choir, band and orchestra up in 5th grade. All the kids have a chance to try it out. Not piano, but almost every other kind of instrument. Then in 6th grade the parents would have to rent or buy an instrument for their child. Band and orchestra goes through 12th grade. Lessons at school are free. But if your child is continuing on with it, private lessons are recommended.

Lots of people here learn to play some kind of musical instrument, but lots of people don't.
It is not important for your success or acceptance over here.
I play some guitar, but rather badly.
If you learn an instrument in jr. high school and then on into high school, it is not expensive at all. But if you go out and hire a private teacher, then it can indeed get expensive.
Some insruments you can teach yourself.
You sound worried as if its something that you are socially required to do: you are not.