A new education database has been made available to the general public by the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. Pro-Publica has taken the data and developed an easy interface for non-statisticians. According to the Pro-Publica website, “this analysis tracks data from the most comprehensive data set of access to advanced classes and special programs in the U.S. public schools” (Check out Methodology here). The database includes all public schools in districts with more than 3,000 students from the 2009-10 school year. The purpose of the analysis is to provide information comparing how each state provides poorer and wealthier schools equal access to advanced classes that “researchers say will help them later in life.” You can search for the following information on the website:
- AP courses
- Gifted and Talented Programs
- Advanced Math and Science Classes
- Certification of Teachers
- Race
- Disability Status
- Gender
- English proficiency
- 54% get Free/Reduced Lunches
- 25% Take at least one AP Course
- 14% take Advanced Math
- 11% Are in a GT Program
- 20% Take Chemistry
- 4% Take Physics