Compared with European and Japanese schools, for instance, courses taken by American youngsters are still considerably easier, particularly in mathematics. And there are still big equity gaps in American education. Children from poorer families, often racial minorities, frequently attend schools that are less demanding academically. They sometimes have little access to the advanced courses that help open college doors. But the overall picture, according to the department, is hopeful.
More toddlers are in preschool programs, with particularly high participation among black families.
More high school students are going on to college. Young women are now nearly 60 percent of the college population. Even older Americans are returning to school in larger numbers, taking courses in their spare time. At the least, youngsters are taking more courses designed to challenge them, not just let them get by. Between 1982 and 1998, the number of students taking the toughest math courses in high school went from 11 to 27 percent.