All of my history courses in NC public schools were survey courses over a long period of time. Of course they'd focus on some specific things for longer than others (pirates in 4th grade), but I don't see how schools teach history without the providing the foundational outline. Understanding the broad ideas and social trends of history are key to being able to put history into context. The biggest problem with the survey courses is that they inevitably skimp on the more recent history as the school year ends. I'm not sure AP US History got much past the civil rights movement and Vietnam.
I don't understand how you teach history without establishing context. Often the context and social movements are more important than the specifics of who, when, and where, especially with more ancient history. We had a variety of world history, US history, and NC history from about 4th grade on. The textbooks and courses had their flaws (Eurocentric, limited coverage of recent history, etc.), but they gave a decent idea of where things fit.