Education statistics from West Virginia

Last week, I shared with you some of the education statistics in Indiana and North Carolina. Today, as primary voters head to the polls in West Virginia, I wanted to highlight some similar statistics in the state:

Student Performance:                
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (2007):
% 4th graders proficient in reading:    28
% 4th graders proficient in math:    33

% 8th graders proficient in reading:    23
% 8th graders proficient in math:    19

According to the state’s own assessments (2007):
% 4th graders proficient in reading:   
% 4th graders proficient in math:    79   

% 8th graders proficient in reading:   
% 8th graders proficient in math:    71   

High School and Beyond:
% 9th graders who graduate from high school on time:     76
% high school graduates who go right on to college:        53
% college freshmen who earn a diploma within six years.     44
(Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education; The NCHEMS Information Center)

Cost to the State:
Approximately 6,700 students did not graduate from West Virginia’s high schools in 2007; that cohort of West Virginia students forfeited $1.7 billion in lifetime earnings by dropping out.

If West Virginia’s high schools graduated all students ready for college, the state would save almost $3.8 million a year in community college remediation costs and lost earnings.
(Source: Alliance for Excellent Education)

As the primary season is winding down, it is time for the candidates in both parties to talk more about their plan to bring about real education reform. All Americans deserve to know how we are going to fix our schools, recruit and retain quality teachers and provide more time and support for learning.