Publication

Room to Run

What Kids Can Do with Challenging, Inspiring Schoolwork

What’s possible when students are challenged and inspired in school?

We don’t hear often enough from the people who know best: students themselves. So we asked.

We asked students like Martin, who once thought pre-calculus was out of reach. Now he’s confident he can excel. He plans to be the first in his family to go to college.

All students deserve the chance to stretch to their full potential in school. That’s why districts are adopting higher academic standards for students. This effort is essential—but it’s not easy.

Room to Run — Martin Rangel (right) works through a tough pre-calculus problem with his teacher, Kelly Zunkiewicz.

In our work, we’ve reviewed thousands of classroom assignments in districts committed to higher standards.

Only about 4 in 10 assignments are challenging enough to prepare kids for college.

It’s a common challenge. Too many students graduate high school unprepared—and spend thousands on remedial courses in college. And most college students won’t earn a bachelor’s degree.

Kids deserve schoolwork now that honors their aspirations for the future. They’re up to the challenge. So let’s hear from them.

40%

of all college students take at least one remedial course.

60%

of African-American and Hispanic college students take at least one remedial course.

60%

of all college students won’t earn a bachelor’s degree.

75%

of African-American and Hispanic college students won’t earn a bachelor’s degree.