Running head: AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION

Jordan Walker African American Education Ms. Priest Winston Salem State University

AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION

African American Education In todays time, education is highly important. Without it, you cannot receive a high paying job or, for that matter, even certain low paying jobs. Out of all the races, I feel no one has had a harder struggle in education than African Americans. I want to persuade my readers that African American education is an issue in society because low graduation rates, inadequate school facilities, and illiteracy at an older age. Throughout the years, the graduation rates of African American students, especially African American males, have decreased greatly. Among all of the other ethnicities, African Americans have the lowest graduation rate in the country. From 2009 to 2010, Asian students graduated highest at 93.5 percent. Amongst the remaining students, white students graduated at 83 percent, Hispanics at 71.4 percent, and American Indians at 69.1 percent. Having the lowest percentage of all students, African Americans graduated at 66.1 percent. In 2011, the rate dropped even lower to 57.7 percent. But in 2012, it received a slight boost to 58.4 percent. Depending on which state you are in, the graduation rates will vary. For example, in Maine, African American males have a higher graduation rate than White males. The graduation rate for AA males is 97 percent, while White males graduation rate is 86 percent. In some situations, the graduation rates are nearly equal. In Alaska, African American males rate is 71 percent and White males rate is 70 percent. In other circumstances, there is a significant gap between the two. In Pennsylvania, the rate reflects the national rate for African Americans. The rate for AA males is 57 percent while White males rate is 85 percent. It has become clear that African Americans do not always have an equal means for learning as some other ethnicities may have. The facilities in which these students learn can impact the learning process and produce low test grades. There was a study in the D.C. school

AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION

system that found that students standardized test scores were lower in schools in poor condition. Schools in poor condition had achievement that was 6% less than schools in fair condition and 11% less than schools in excellent condition. Among there years, there have been several similar studies done on this issue. In 1996, a study of large, urban high schools in Virginia found a relationship between building conditions and student success levels. Hines study confirmed that student achievement was indeed 11 percent lower in standardized buildings as compared to above-standard buildings. Because of the dropouts and students being allowed to just be passed through each grade, many African Americans are able to properly read or write. But more surprisingly, many African American adults today cannot read or write at an appropriate level for their age. Again, it seems learning is divided amongst the races. In 1992, only 10 percent of Whites were below the basic literacy level and 53 percent of the total was at an intermediate literacy level. For Hispanics, 28 percent was below basic literacy level while 38 percent of the complete total was at an intermediate literacy level. Blacks have a below literacy level at 38 percent, the highest of all the races. Their intermediate literacy level sits at 34 percent out of the complete total. African Americans have had a struggle over the years when it comes to education. The issues they face from a day to day basis are low graduation rates, inadequate school facilities, and illiteracy at an older age. Of all the races, no other, in my opinion, has received more institutional discrimination than African Americans.

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Reference Page "Welcome!" The Times and Democrat. N.p., 22 Sept. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. "Black Male Graduation Rates." The Urgency of Now RSS2. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. "Social Statistics Briefing Room (SSBR): Adult Literacy." Social Statistics Briefing Room (SSBR): Adult Literacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.