International School Comparisons

Few are more critical of the current U.S. public school system than myself.  However, that criticism needs to be tempered with a measure of reality.

The problem with articles such as this one is that they are comparing apples to oranges.  When comparing school districts in the U.S. to those of the "best schools" internationally, we must account for the differences in who actually is allowed to receive an education.

In many of those countries with the "best schools", low performing students are weeded out before they ever reach high school.  In the U.S., as long as someone has an active heartbeat, they are allowed to attend school.  The more egalitarian approach the U.S. has towards education guarantees our averages on standardized tests will fall below those nations who refuse to allow low performing students in their doors.

Let's not be disingenuous in our criticism.  I may be a critic, but I'd like to believe I'm an honest one.