One Nation Under Gov [Infographic]

Access to free public education is considered one of our greatest rights as Americans, but how effective is our education system? As it turns out, the US ranks 17^th overall in high school graduation rates around the world, with students in Latvia, Chile and Brazil making academic gains at a rate three times faster than American students. In fact, 93 percent of students in Finland graduate high school (compared to 70.5 percent of Americans), despite Finland spending 30 percent less on education!

Some of the major problems with our education system stem from the No Child Left Behind Act, nobly designed to help expand standards and accountability in our schools. The program aims to ensure 100 percent of children will be proficient in math and reading by 2014. The reality is, unfortunately, that 100 percent proficiency is a nearly impossible standard that is never met by any country. Now, since school funding is often based on standardized test scores, numerous reports of cheating scandals have come up throughout the country, while test scores have remained largely unchanged.

The infographic below presented by TopEducationDegrees.org includes much more data about the effects of No Child Left Behind and also talks about tenure for teachers, another attempt at improving our schools which has unseen (largely negative) consequences. How do you feel about the state of the US education system? Make your voice heard in the comments below!

Source: TopEducationDegrees.org