SHOCK: Report Shows 90% of CUNY Freshmen From City High Schools Fail at Basic Algebra

It is a sad commentary on the state of education in this country when more city kids are graduating from high school, and not having a firm grasp on doing basic college math. According to a report published by the City University of New York (CUNY), basic algebra involving fractions and decimals stumped a group of City University of New York freshmen - suggesting city schools aren't preparing them. Further proof that President Barack Obama and his Education Secretary Arne Duncan are right to sound the alarm about the falling standards at many schools across this country. The results of the CUNY study are shocking, to say the least. It shows that a disturbing proportion of New York City high school graduates lack basic math skills.

During their first math class at one of CUNY's four-year colleges, 90% of 200 students tested couldn't solve a simple algebra problem, the report by the CUNY Council of Math Chairs found. Only a third could convert a fraction into a decimal.

The lack of math skills means the CUNY students - nearly 70% of which come from city schools - could struggle to keep up with peers, fail classes or even drop out, the professors charged. The council submitted its report in September 2008 to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein with a plea to work with city schools. Source: NY Daily News

I am pretty sure that these same startling statistics are applicable to other school districts across this country. Most students seek to avoid math like the plague. We have to find ways to teach students to understand math by making the curriculum more interesting, instead of monotonous and boring.