Protecting and Promoting School Choice

EFI Publications

High School Math Grade Inflation Hinders College Success

A UCSD student who earned A’s and B’s in high school math found herself unprepared for college-level courses, forcing her to start over. The story raises concerns about grade inflation in American high schools and whether they adequately prepare students for higher education. It also questions the responsibilities of universities in supporting underprepared incoming students.

Key Points

  • Student excelled in high school math but struggled in college due to insufficient foundational skills.
  • Highlights broader issues of grade inflation and readiness gaps in U.S. high schools.
  • Prompts discussion on roles of high schools and universities in ensuring math proficiency.

Implications for Educational Freedom

This case underscores failures in traditional public high schools to provide rigorous education, bolstering arguments for school choice and vouchers to empower parents in selecting schools that better prepare students for college. It highlights government overreach in maintaining low standards, limiting parental rights to demand accountability and freedom in education.

Source: She passed high school math with A’s and B’s. In college, she had to start over.

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