High School Completion Test by Grade Ten

A new educational plan can have students finishing high school by grade ten. The final two years of high school would not be necessary:

“High school sophomores should be ready for college by age 16. That’s the message from New Hampshire education officials, who announced plans Oct. 30 for a new rigorous state board of exams to be given to 10th graders. Students who pass will be prepared to move on to the state’s community or technical colleges, skipping the last two years of high school.”

link: Should Kids Be Able to Graduate After 10th Grade?

The rationale is that this is educational reform and it is better use of the educational dollar. It also is asking fifteen and sixteen year olds to make important life decisions. Further, it is streaming some of the young graduates into technical vocations at a very early age.

This may be a financially prudent step with the present strain on a weak educational budget. However, this does not necessarily mean that the general level of education for the general population increases. It may have the opposite effect.

Catherine Forsythe