We have all seen the studies comparing the secondary students of various nations in which the US doesn’t do well. I have always wondered if these are apples to apples comparasions.
Are the other countries testing all of their students? Unfortunately, what brings down the US’s score is that students in poorer districts aren’t getting the same quality of education as the ones in richer districts.
Are the countries that separate students into apprenticeship and college tracks testing the apprentices?
Do these countries have the same rate of school attendance? My SWAG is that the rich countries probably do better considering the US dropout rate but I don’t know for sure.
So what is the Straight Dope?