The public urgently wants high schools fixed and says that our economy is dependent on sweeping changes.

The public has clearly identified education as a resource for the new economy and finds it necessary for us to improve our high school education as soon as possible to maintain our economic edge and standard of living.

• The general public agrees that students are unprepared for college and work:
• A majority (72 percent) are concerned that most students are unaware of the preparation needed to excel in college and work. (Alliance)
• The public told the Alliance for Excellent Education that the most important goal for high school is to prepare students for a full range of opportunities and prepare them for the workplace and college — something that needs to urgently change according to 83 percent of respondents. But they don’t feel high schools are living up to this expectation. A jarring 65 percent of respondents said that the high school diploma does not mean students are prepared for well-paying jobs. (See Alliance poll to get an ethnic breakdown of these data.)
• More than half of the general public polled by the Educational Testing Service say that high schools need a major overhaul and they are not preparing students to be successful in two- or four-year colleges. (ETS)
• The economy suffers because schools are doing a poor job:
• A majority (76 percent) of the public say that America’s ability to compete in the global marketplace will be weakened if in 25 years far more high schools haven't changed. (ETS)
• Nearly 70 percent of the general public feel schools are failing to help struggling students and prevent dropouts. (ETS)
• Nearly 70 percent of the general public feel a high dropout rate has a significant effect on the nation’s economy. (Alliance)
• Changes need to be made even if that means paying higher taxes:
• States need to develop more academically rigorous standards with a greater emphasis on Advanced Placement, according to 36 percent of those polled by the Educational Testing Service. (ETS)
• A majority of those polled by the Alliance for Excellent Education (66 percent) say they would pay higher taxes for high schools to provide a rigorous core curriculum that requires 12th grade skills to graduate. (Alliance)
• 80 percent favor requiring students to pass a statewide graduation test. (ETS)
• Fewer than one out of 10 adults think expectations are high enough and that students are being significantly challenged. The majority agree that expectations could be higher. (ETS)

The general public identifies college prep as the ideal core curriculum.

All groups polled by ETS thought some students are better off outside of a college-prep education and should instead receive specific job training. Yet the public defined the core knowledge students should learn before graduation, and it aligns with a college-prep curriculum.

• 85 percent say students should have four years of English.
• 73 percent say students should have four years of mathematics.
• 63 percent say they should have two years of a foreign language.
• 69 percent say they need three years of science.
• 81 percent say they need three years of history/civics.
• 95 percent say they need at least one year of computer science.
• 57 percent strongly favor a change in the basic approach to the senior year, giving students an option to spend less time in high school classes if they qualify for a work-study program, are working toward industry certification or are taking college classes.