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How Are Public Schools in the United States Actually Doing?
When asked to rank the quality of their child's school, most parents rated it a B average. And yet politicians would have you believe that the American public-school system is failing. How are America's public schools really doing, and how do we know?

If you listen to what just about any politician has to say about America’s schools, you’ll hear the word “failing” quite a bit. The fact is that education is a hot topic and it is one that can be used to inspire people to vote. But how much can you actually trust what a politician has to say about the American public education system? How are the public schools in America actually doing?

In 2017, Jack Schneider released a book called Beyond Test Scores in which he suggests that it is well past time to start rethinking the way we measure school performance.

Schneider writes that while test scores are the go-to metric used to evaluate a school’s performance, they don’t really paint an accurate picture. Using Somerville, Massachusetts, a highly diverse urban school district, as a case study, Schneider presents a new framework to assess the effectiveness of the American education system. Read on to learn more about Schneider’s approach and to see data on how American public schools are really doing.

This video from CNBC explains why our public education system is failing us.

Changes to the U.S. News Ranking System

Each year, U.S. News publishes a list of the Best High Schools in America. For the 2018 school year, U.S. News ranked over 2,700 schools – some of the names topping the list were BASIS Scottsdale (AZ), Meridian

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What is the Impact of High School Graduation Rates?

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What is the Impact of High School Graduation Rates?
The high school graduation rate is in a constant state of change and dropout rates affect more than the individual student. Read on to learn about factors influencing high school graduation rates and what schools can do to improve them.

Dropping out of high school is a decision that over 1 million American students make each year. Though it is a personal decision, it has a far-reaching impact not only on the student but on other students and the American education system.

Students who drop out of high school are more likely to live a life of periodic unemployment and have a higher rate of using government assistance. They tend to cycle in and out of the prison system more often than students who obtain a high school diploma, and their annual income is lower. But how does a student’s decision to drop out of high school affect others? And what impacts the rate at which students drop out of school?

In this article, we’ll explore the subject of high school graduation rates including the factors that influence them and their impact on schools and the American education system.

This video explains the effect of high school graduation rates on the American economy.

Why Do Students Drop Out of High School?

Roughly 7,000 students in the United States drop out of high school every day. For some time, the United States had some of the highest graduation rates of any developing country, but we have fallen to a ranking of 22 out of 27 countries.

High school is known for being one of the more unpleasant periods of a person’s

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The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System

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The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System
The world is in a constant state of change and those who fail to adjust fall behind. Unfortunately, the American public education system has not kept up with the times and is currently facing a number of serious problems. Keep reading to learn about the biggest failures affecting the modern U.S. public education system as well as some of the trends that could spark change.

Decades ago, the American formal education system was designed to meet the changing needs of the industrial revolution. What was once a time of growth has changed over the years and, with the current economic climate, that system is no longer able to meet modern needs. But what are the biggest failures of the American public education system, and how can they be remedied?

In this article, we’ll explore fifteen of the biggest failures affecting the American public education system today. We’ll also explore five of the biggest emerging trends in American education.

The Top 15 Failures in American Public Education

Policymakers are constantly fighting to make changes to the American public education system, and not all of them are beneficial. Over the years, there has been a great deal of back-and-forth that has left the public education system in shambles. Some of these problems are easy to identify and have been long-standing issues while others are new, brought about by advances in technology, changes in policy, and general change that happens with time.

Every story has two sides, and for every policy or program put into place, there are going to be proponents and critics. Below you’ll find an overview of some of the biggest issues facing the American public system as well as arguments from people on both sides of the issue.

This video examines the question of why public education is failing parents and students.

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10 Ways to Use Summer to Boost Your College Application

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10 Ways to Use Summer to Boost Your College Application
Summer break is a time to kick back and relax but it is also a great time to do activities that will boost your college applications. Keep reading to see how to boost your application this summer.

When the final bell rings on the last day of school, you’re probably ready to rush home and throw your bookbag in the closet until fall. As a high school student, summer is a time to relax and to take a break from studying, but if you plan to apply for college, you might want to consider using some of your summer break to boost your college application.

You don’t necessarily need to jump right into summer school, but there are some simple things you can do this summer to improve your college application. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Why Is It Important to Stay Busy Over the Summer?

Though it may be tempting to spend the whole summer sleeping in and spending time with friends, it’s important to keep one eye on your future. Your brain can definitely use a break when it comes to studying and stress, but don’t shut it down entirely for the next two months.

Staying busy and productive over the summer is important for a number of reasons. When it comes to college applications, however, it will show admissions officers that you’re serious about your education and your future. Something as simple as taking a summer school course or volunteering with a local charity shows a commitment to academic excellence and depth of character. Everything you do is an opportunity to show college admissions who you really are.

In addition to making yourself look better on a college

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Choosing Between the SAT and ACT and How to Prepare

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Choosing Between the SAT and ACT and How to Prepare
Taking the SAT or ACT is a major source of stress for high school students. Keep reading to learn how to choose the right test and how to prepare for it.

Choosing which colleges to apply to is a big decision and not one that should be made lightly. You have to consider factors such as class size, location, degree options, student-teacher ratios, and more. With so many options to choose from, things can get pretty stressful.

In all the flurry of trying to pick a college, you might forget about something even more important – college admissions exams. It doesn’t matter what schools you want to apply to if you don’t do well enough on your college admissions exams or, worse if you forget to take them entirely.

The SAT and the ACT are the two most popular college admissif2009 reportons exams, and both are universally accepted by colleges in the United States. If you’re like many high school students, you may be wondering what the difference is between these two tests and which one you should take, if not both of them. Keep reading to learn what every high schooler needs to know about these exams and how to prepare for them.

How Important Are Test Scores for College Admissions?

Most colleges and universities in the United States consider an applicant’s score on college admissions exams like the SAT and ACT. Many schools have a minimum score they will accept, though some schools weigh these scores more heavily than others. Though each school is different, the fact remains – scoring well on college admissions exams is important.

Though you should definitely do your best on the SAT

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