I came across some statistics at  usatoday.com—thought it was an interesting list to reflect on as a new school year begins.  I guess, to me, the most poignant of the list were the statistics on the racial and ethnic makeup of students that attend the highest “poverty schools,” how people polled say  US education is doing against other countries, and how people believe we best measure student achievement… 

These three point out, rather significantly to me, how the landscape of education in America has changed over the past few decades—Some of the statistics below point out that some things remain the same: weaponry brought to school remains about the same—about 1 in 5 kids.  But what do these statistics suggest to educators specifically?  How should teachers today approach their curriculum in a way that will best reach their audience?  Half of the American populous doesn’t think we’re keeping up with other countries—and if that’s true, what changes need to be made to keep pace?   Food for thought… Ideas?

STATISTICS ON U.S. SCHOOLS
Sources: AP-Knowledge Networks Poll, Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, College Board, American Association of University Professors.

Racial and ethnic makeup of public schools:
1972: 78% white, 15% black, 6% Hispanic, 1% other
2005: 57.1% white, 17.2% black, 19.8% Hispanic, 5.8% other

Public school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12:
1997: 46.1 million
2007: 49.6 million

Private school enrollment in kindergarten through grade 12:
1997: 5.9 million
2007: 6.2 million

Percentage of fourth-graders, by race and ethnicity, attending highest poverty schools:
White: 5%
Asian: 16%
American Indian: 36%
Black: 48%
Hispanic: 49%

Percentage of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds enrolled in school:
1965: 10%
2006: 66%

Students in grades 9-12 who reported carrying a weapon in the last 30 days:
1993: 22.1%
2005: 19%

Percentage of children 5 to 17 who spoke a language other than English at home:
1979: 8.5%
2006: 20.3%

How people say the U.S. is doing in education against other countries:
Getting ahead: 4%
Just keeping up: 44%
Falling behind: 50%

What people say is the best way to measure student achievement:
Test scores: 28%
Classroom work and homework: 70%

What people say about teacher pay:
Should be based at least in part on student performance: 61%
Should not be based in any way on student performance: 37%

Percentage of population 25 and older with various educational levels, 2006: Less than high school degree: 14.3%
High school graduate: 32%
Some college: 17%
Associate's degree: 8.6%
Bachelor's degree: 18.9%
Advanced degree: 9.8%

Median yearly earnings of full-time workers 18 and older in 2005:
Less than high school degree: $21,943
High school diploma or equivalent: $30,587
Some college experience: $35,317
Bachelor's degree or higher: $55,188

Sources of public spending on schools, 2006: Federal: 9%
States: 46.6%
Local: 44.4%
Total spending: $521.1 billion

Spending per student, 2006: National average: $9,138
New York (highest): $14,884
Utah (lowest): $5,437

Total college enrollment in two-year and four-year schools:
1991: 14.4 million
2000: 15.3 million
2005: 17.5 million
2008: 18.3 million (x)

 


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