According to the Council of the Great City Schools' annual Beating the Odds report, fourth and eighth graders are doing better in reading and math, both on state standardized tests and the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). The report compared test scores from 2002 through 2005 in 66 urban districts. While urban school achievement remains below national averages in math, the percentage of fourth and eighth graders in these schools who scored at or above proficient levels has risen each year since 2002. Reading achievement is also improving in urban schools, particularly among fourth graders: 54.4 percent of urban fourth graders scored at or above proficient level in reading, up more than 11 percentage points from 2002. In addition, race-based achievement gaps appear to be narrowing in reading and math.

Visit this Web site >>