Urban Issues

Researchers at the Council for Great City Schools Report Improved Test Scores

In May 2001, the Council for Great City Schools, an organization of over 50 of the nation's largest urban public school systems, released the results of a study of how major city schools are performing on state assessments. The report, entitled Beating the Odds, indicates widespread increases in math and reading test scores and a significant percentage of districts making faster gains than the average gains in their respective states. A few districts also made progress in narrowing ethnic achievement gaps. The report raised questions for additional future study, including reasons for improvements, comparative data across states, and relative under funding of urban districts.

The school districts that are members of the Council for Great City Schools represent 14% of U.S. students, and the Council's mission is to promote the cause of urban schools and urban students through legislation, research, and media relations.

See Beating the Odds II for the 2002 report.

See Beating the Odds III for the 2003 report.