Education by the numbers

Originally published August 5, 2001

College readiness

- Average SAT score (1,600 possible):

1,019 in 2000

1,001 in 1990

994 in 1980

1,049 in 1970

- SAT test takers who studied calculus:

24% in 2000

19% in 1990

- Average ACT composite score (36 possible):

21 in 2000

20.6 in 1990

- ACT-tested students in 2000 prepared for:

Adv. composition: 48%

College algebra: 34%

Biology/chemistry: 28%

American history: 48%

- High school seniors bound for college in 1995: 61.9%

- College freshmen taking remedial classes in 1995: 29%

- High school dropouts among 16- to 24 year-olds:

11.2% in 1999

12.6% in 1989

14.6% in 1979

Teacher preparation, pay

- Public school teachers in 2000: 3 million

- Public school teachers with:

Bachelor's degrees: 100%

Master's degrees: 45%

- Average teacher pay:

$41,820 in 1999-2000

$39,360 in 1997-98

- Average beginning teacher pay:

$27,989 in 1999-2000

$25,735 in 1997-98

- U.S. eighth-grade students whose math teacher had a math degree: 41%

- Eighth-graders in 38 countries whose math teachers had math degrees: 71%

Student performance

- Fourth-graders who read below the basic level:

37% in 2000

38% in 1992

- U.S. eighth-graders who "almost always" use a calculator in math class: 42%

- Korean eighth-graders who "almost always" use a calculator in math class: 0.1%

- U.S. eighth-graders' math ranking in a 38-nation survey: 19th

- Korean eighth-graders' ranking: 2nd

- U.S. eighth-graders who spent an hour or more on science homework daily: 16%

- Singapore eighth-graders who spent an hour or more on science homework daily: 55%

- Average fourth-grade reading score (out of 500):

217 in 2000

217 in 1992

Technology

- Public schools with Internet access in 2000: 98%

- Public school classrooms with Internet access in 2000: 77%

- Public school students per classroom computer: 5

- Public school students per classroom computer with Internet access: 7

- U.S. eighth-graders with home computers: 80%

- Eighth-graders in 38 countries with home computers: 45%

Percentages may be rounded.

Sources: National Center for Education

Statistics: The College Board; American Federation of Teachers; Third International Mathematics and Science Study; ACT

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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