Fun Facts

Several alarming statistics has surfaced during the National Education Summit on High Schools in Washington, D.C. The two-day summit, co-sponsored by the National Governors Association and Achieve Inc. began yesterday and featured many leaders in government, education, and business who came to the summit to improve the condition of America's schools.

Billionare Bill Gates, who opened the summit, were among the many speakers who revealed that:

• The United States ranks 16th among 20 developed nations in the percentage of students who complete high school and 14th among the top 20 in college graduation rates.
• Just 18 of 100 students entering high school go on to compete their college degree within six years of starting college.
• The nation has slipped from first to fifth internationally in the percentage of young people who hold a college degree.

Read this Feb. 27 article in washingtonpost.com for more details.