In D.C., nearly half of all black and Latino students drop out. Of those who graduate, nearly half are reading and doing math at seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade levels. D.C. academic achievement ranks 51st, last in the U.S.
Yet last week came a report from New York that makes D.C look like M.I.T. Some 200 students, in their first math class at City University of New York, were tested on their basic math skills. Ninety percent could not do basic algebra. One-third could not convert a decimal into a fraction.
If this was a representative sampling, nine in 10 CUNY students not only do not belong in college, they do not qualify for their high school diplomas. As for that third who can't do decimals and fractions, they should not have been allowed into high school until they could do sixth-grade math.
On the other hand:
The good news imbedded in all this bad news is...
A very well-prepared young person is a joy to admissions committees and academic faculties.
Maths, English, Languages.
English, Maths, Languages,
Languages, English, Maths.
Need to hear it again, Moms and Dads and kids?
Now, get back to work...the world needs competent people, recession or no.
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