U.S. Schools Did Better in ‘90s, Report Finds

Compared with the 1980s, America’s public schools are doing a better job of educating children and preparing them for college, a recent study found.

The report found that fewer students are dropping out, students are taking more challenging courses and more students with disabilities are finding their way into mainstream classrooms.

The study, released last week, was conducted by the Center on Education Policy and the American Youth Policy Forum. It is based on two decades of government data. The Center on Education Policy advocates for public schools.

“Critics and reformers are overemphasizing the bad and slighting the good. We’re saying that of course we have to do better, but we’ve moved a far distance in 15 years,” said Jack Jennings, a former Education Department official who directs the center.

Education Secretary Richard Riley agreed.

“This progress demonstrates that the effort to reform American education by raising standards and strengthening our investments in our schools is working,” he said. “It also sends the clear message that we should continue to support and improve public education and not be lured down the dead-end road of vouchers that drain precious resources from our public schools.”

The study notes that the overall dropout rate declined by 4% and the rate among black youths dropped 8% between 1972 and 1997, the latest year for which figures were available.

Among the study’s other findings:

* Scores on the math portion of the SAT increased 17 points and verbal scores increased 2 points between 1983 and 1999.

* Scores on standardized science and math achievement tests improved between 1982 and 1996 among 9-, 13- and 17-year-olds.

* A greater percentage of students were going to college, with 14% more in 1997 than in 1983.