High School Students Take Advanced Courses

The good news is that a report on the state of United States education indicates that high school students are taking more advanced coursework -- especially in mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and foreign languages. This is according to The Condition of Education 2007 report released by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a Congressionally mandated report that provides an annual statistical portrait of education in the U.S.

There are 48 indicators in this report covering all aspects of education, from student achievement to school environment and from early childhood through post secondary education.

Enrollment in U.S. public schools is becoming more and more diverse, and more individuals are enrolling in post secondary education. What's more, today there are more bachelor’s degrees being awarded than in the past.

As a Board member of the Joe DeMaggio Committee, which helps raise funds for my alma mater, Xaverian High School in New York City, it is my belief that lack of education is the root of most of the problems that we have in this country. This group raises money to help financially challenged families give their children a good education. My website RoccoBasile.org has an entire page on it.

The bad news is that many students in America cannot afford a quality education. And just as an example, approximately 10 percent of the Xaverian enrollment includes students that have learning difficulties. But the good news is, as an example, out of the Class of 2005, 25 percent ended up going to to Ivy League schools.

If you are interested in learning more about the state of education in our country, here is a place to start, showing indicators that were compiled from the 2003–2007 editions of The Condition of Education that I mentioned earlier. It lists things including: Student Attitudes and Aspirations; Student Effort; Elementary/Secondary Persistence and Progress; Transition to College, and much more. Go to http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/list/index.asp