Low Graduation Rates: Oprah Gets All A's on Education Report

On Monday, April 10, and Tuesday, April 11, 2006 talk show mogul Oprah Winfrey invited guests Bill and Melinda Gates and retired NBA star Kevin Johnson as she dedicated two entire programs, two full shows, to what can only be described as one of the most serious problems facing America.

America’s schools are in crisis.

Just 20 years ago America’s elementary and high schools were rated #1 in the world in literacy, mathematics and science. Today we do not even rate in the top 20. In fact America rates 24th among industrialized nations and the gap is widening. Expert Charles J. Sykes, (not featured on the show), commented: “By virtually every measure of achievement, American students lag far behind their counterparts in both Asia and Europe, especially in math and science.”

Oprah and her guests did a fantastic job of shedding light on the problems, delving into a detailed overview of disturbing conditions in several U.S. cities, presenting commentary from students, parents, teachers, administrators and concerned citizens. Even submitting several avenues by which to address the problems.

Here are the hard numbers from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research:

High School Graduation Rates in the United States
REVISED APRIL 2002
Jay P. Greene, Ph. D.
Senior Fellow, The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
Research Associate, with a foreword by Kaleem Caire,
President and CEO, Black Alliance for Educational Options. 
(Prepared for the Black Alliance for Educational Options.)