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How Public Schools Prepare for College: What to Look For as Your Child Starts High School

As students enter high school, families often begin asking the same essential question: how do public schools prepare for college, and what should parents be paying attention to early on? While college planning may feel distant to a ninth grader, the foundation for academic readiness, personal growth, and postsecondary success is built from the first day of high school.

Public schools across the United States have significantly expanded college preparation efforts in recent years. Updated graduation requirements, broader access to advanced coursework, and stronger counseling models in 2026 reflect a national emphasis on college readiness, workforce alignment, and equitable opportunity. Understanding how public schools prepare for college helps families make informed decisions, advocate effectively, and support students during these formative years.

This guide outlines what college preparation looks like in public schools today and what parents should look for as their child begins high school.

Why College Preparation Starts in Ninth Grade

When families explore how public schools prepare for college, they often focus on junior and senior year milestones like SAT testing or college applications. In reality, college preparation begins much earlier.

Ninth grade sets the academic and behavioral trajectory for high school. Course placement, study habits, attendance, and early academic performance influence everything from GPA to advanced course eligibility. Public schools prepare for college by using ninth grade as a transition year that

The Push for Bilingual Education in 2025

Bilingual education continues to be one of the most debated and dynamic areas of U.S. public education policy. As the nation’s student population becomes more linguistically diverse, families, educators, and policymakers are re-examining how schools can best support bilingual education to meet academic, cultural, and economic goals. This article updates key trends, research findings, policy changes, and real-world examples from the most recent data available in 2025, helping families and decision makers understand the state of bilingual learning today.

What Is Bilingual Education?

Bilingual education refers to instructional approaches in which students learn academic content in two languages, typically English and a partner language, such as Spanish, Mandarin, or American Sign Language. These programs vary widely in design. Some offer support for students learning English, others aim for biliteracy for all students regardless of background, and still others, like dual-language immersion, share instructional time more equitably across languages.

Bilingual education can include:

• Transitional bilingual programs designed primarily to support English learners’ acquisition of English language skills

• Dual-language immersion programs that aim for literacy and academic proficiency in both languages

• Developmental bilingual programs that support heritage language maintenance while students gain English proficiency

A directory of current foreign language immersion offerings illustrates the variety of programs available in U.S. schools, including Spanish-English immersion programs in multiple states. Public School

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Homework (Updated for 2025)

Homework remains a central feature of the U.S. public education system, shaping how students learn, how families engage, and how educators structure learning beyond classroom hours. For parents, students, and educators alike, the debate over homework’s value is more relevant in 2025 than ever, influenced by emerging research, mental health concerns, equity issues, and evolving educational practices.

In this article, we revisit the benefits and drawbacks of homework with the latest evidence, policy trends, and expert insights from 2025, while preserving the original structure and style of this comprehensive review.

What Is Homework?

Homework refers to tasks assigned by teachers that students complete outside regular class time. These tasks vary widely by grade level, subject, and instructional philosophy, ranging from traditional worksheets to project-based assignments, reflective work, or digital tasks.

The Benefits of Homework

Reinforces Classroom Learning

One of homework’s most cited benefits is its ability to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom. When homework tasks are well-designed and purposeful, they help students revisit material, practice skills, and deepen understanding. Researchers emphasize that assignments aligned with instructional goals contribute to higher student achievement when students complete them with engagement and support.

Builds Study Skills and Academic Habits

Homework encourages the development of time management, organization, self-discipline, and independent learning—skills that matter throughout a student’s academic life and beyond. Educators point out that

Measuring Student Success in Public Schools: Beyond Test Scores

As public schools navigate shifting educational landscapes in 2025, it is imperative to reassess how we measure student success. Traditional reliance on standardized test scores provides only a narrow lens on student achievement. For parents, students, and educators alike, recognizing broader indicators of success in public schools offers a more complete and equitable view of school performance and student growth.

Why We Must Move Beyond Test Scores

Standardized tests historically served as the dominant metric for student and school performance. However, research shows several limitations:

• Test scores often fail to capture growth, engagement, and other non-academic dimensions of success.

• They correlate strongly with external factors such as socioeconomic status and family background rather than purely reflecting school quality.

• �鶹������ý commentary suggests test-based assessments may even derail student engagement and learning if overemphasized.

Thus, measuring student success in public schools demands a more holistic, multi-dimensional approach. The goal is not to eliminate test scores entirely but to integrate them into a broader framework of indicators.

Key Dimensions of Student Success in Public Schools

Below is a summary table of dimensions that public schools should consider when measuring student success:

2011 Classroom Size Update — 2025 Edition: Are Classes Still Growing Larger?

When PublicSchoolReview published its 2011 look at classroom size, the question loomed: were classes quietly swelling in size, eroding personalized instruction and straining teacher capacity? Over a decade later, the question remains urgent — but the answer is more nuanced. In 2025, classroom size, policy, and pedagogy all intersect in ways that differ from 2011. This article revisits that structure, updating each section with the latest data, stakeholder voices, and implications for families, educators, and school leaders.

1. National Averages: Mixed Signals, Methodological Challenges

In 2011, many observers pointed to steadily rising student-to-teacher ratios and concerns about “mega-classes.” Today, two factors complicate straightforward comparison: (a) federal reporting has become less complete, and (b) the pandemic disrupted trends.

On the data front, the U.S. Department of Education in 2025 has missed its usual June 1 release of the Condition of Education, delaying or reducing the number of published tables significantly. This gap makes it harder to track year-over-year changes in average class size.

The most recent reliable estimate comes from the 2020–21 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), which found that in public schools, self-contained classes averaged about 18.8 students across K–12. For departmentalized secondary instruction, averages hover in the low 20s, depending on subject and state. That aligns broadly with prior reports: EBSCO’s “Class Size: Research Starters” cites