Press Release
Jay P. Greene, University of Arkansas professor of education reform, co-authored a study that shows even the most elite suburban school districts in the United States often produce results that are mediocre when compared to student achievement in other countries. An article featuring these results will be published in the journal Education Next.
Greene, who holds the Twenty-First Century Chair in Education Reform, conducted the study with Josh McGee, vice president for public accountability initiatives at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. McGee was a University of Arkansas doctoral fellow in economics and formerly worked as a research associate for the department of education reform. Greene is the department head. He is also a fellow with the George W. Bush Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
The article in the winter issue of Education Next describes the first-ever comparison of math and reading performance in nearly every U.S. school district against student achievement in a set of 25 developed countries. "When the Best is Mediocre" can be read at the Education Next website.
According to the study, the math achievement of the average student in Beverly Hills, Calif., is at the 53rd percentile relative to the international comparison group. Grosse Point, Mich., is at the 56th percentile; White Plains, N.Y., is at the 39th percentile; Evanston, Ill., is at the 48th percentile; and Montgomery County, Maryland, is at the 50th percentile.
The more affluent school districts in Arkansas fare no better. Fayetteville is at the 46th percentile in math achievement relative to the international comparison group; Bentonville is at the 53rd percentile; Conway is at the 47th percentile; and Bryant is at the 53rd percentile.
The authors developed a method for comparing student achievement across countries called the "Global Report Card." It links performance on state tests to the National Assessment for Educational Progress and then to international tests conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. A complete set of results for virtually every public school district can be found at the interactive website http://www.globalreportcard.org/.
If you would like to interview Jay P. Greene, or if you have any questions please contact:
Misty Newcomb
(479) 575-7024
mdn01@uark.edu
Twitter:@Ed_Reform
