As a father of a brand-spanking new kindergartener, I’ve suddenly become very interested in the public school system offered by my state, the lovely and wonderful South Cackkalacky. The following is what scares me….and then there is this video that just drives it all home.
Alliance for Excellent Education Report – June 2007
• Only about 54 percent of all students in South Carolina graduate on time from high school with a regular diploma.
• Each year nearly 30,000 students in South Carolina do not graduate with their peers
• Dropouts from the class of 2006 cost the state more than $7.8 billion in lost wages, taxes, and productivity over their lifetimes.
The Education Trust Report – 2005
• Two states, New Mexico and South Carolina, have decided that as long as graduation rates in their high schools don’t actually decline, schools have met the improvement goals of the federal law.
South Carolina Kids Count Report – 2007
• South Carolina ranks an “uncompetitive” 46th on the well-being of children, (ahead of only Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and New Mexico)
• On both state and national tests, especially PACT and NAEP, over 30% of 8th grade students in South Carolina do not achieve minimum academic standards and 70% fall short of the proficient level deemed necessary for skilled participation in the international marketplace
What’s up with that?
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