- And some achievement gaps are narrowing. On long-term National Assessment of Education Progress trend assessments in math and reading, test score gaps between White and minority students have narrowed to the smallest margins in three decades.
- Students are safer at school. Rates of school-related crime and violence fell by more than half since 1992, from a high of 144 total non-fatal incidents per 1,000 students ages 12-18 that year to just 64 incidents per 1,000 students in 2002.
- More students are attending and graduating from college. The percentage of high-school graduates immediately enrolling in college has risen from about 55 percent in 1984 to 64 percent in 2003. Meanwhile, the proportion of students completing a bachelor’s degree or higher has climbed from 22 percent in 1985 to 29 percent in 2002.
In addition to tracking positive statistics in American education, the report also highlights areas that require more attention from educators and policy makers. In particular, the report calls for a renewed focus on reducing dropout rates and providing additional support to minority, low-income, non-native English speakers and students with disabilities to ensure that they achieve at the same levels as their counterparts. Noting the continued lag in performance and the persistent nature of achievement gaps in grades 9-12, the report also calls for a greater priority on reforming the nation’s high schools.
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