Poll after poll continues to show that people believe that their own schools are good and that other peoples’ schools aren’t doing as well. According to Education Daily, Rick Johnson of Lake Research told a meeting of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) that 79% of likely voters find it “extremely or very concerning” that high school dropouts cost the nation over $319 billion annually.

Here are some additional findings of interest to high school leaders along with my comments:

• 73% believe that high school improvement is an urgent need. High schools are important. So, lets fund them at the same level that we fund elementary and post-secondary education.
• 69% say that high school graduates are not career-ready. In the 21^st century, a high school diploma is not a terminal degree. We need to prepare all students for post-secondary education and training.
• 27% rate the nation’s schools A or B. 21% rate the nation’s schools D or F. 42% give the nation’s schools a C. In a knowledge economy, the nation with the high level of education will have the highest standard of living. We have work to do.
• 37% of the respondents gave high schools in their state an A or B. 46% gave local public schools and A or B. The closer that community members are to your school, the more positively they rate your school. I learned this in a community relations course more than 30 years ago, and it is as true today as it was then.