Education Statistics

Understanding the problem

  • Among 30 developed nations, the U.S. is ranked 25th in math and 21st in science. (The Foundation for Science and Math Education)
  • By 2020, there will be an estimated 123 million high-paying, high-skilled jobs in the U.S. but only 50 million Americans will be qualified for these positions. (Waiting for Superman)
  • 67% of 4th grade public school students in the U.S. scored proficient in reading in 2009 (The Nation's Report Card, Reading 2009, p.8)
  • 1,700 schools across the country are “dropout factories,” where 40% of students quit between 9th and 12th grade. (Associated Press)
  • 230 Colorado schools have been assigned “priority improvement” or “turnaround” rating. (CDE)
  • Almost 29% of Denver’s graduating seniors needed remedial classes in college. (The Denver Post)
  • Although the overall graduation rate for the class of 2000 was nearly 70 percent, for most
    minority students the likelihood of getting a high school diploma on time is about 50-50. (US Dept. of Education, A Nation at Risk)