AP Calculus Outcomes: What 12 High Schools Discovered About Student Readiness
AP Calculus pass rates vary widely across schools with similar demographics. 12 high schools share what makes the difference between strong and weak outcomes.
Lab Notebooks in High School Science: A Lost Practice Worth Reviving
The traditional lab notebook (handwritten observations, sketches, calculations) has declined in high school science. The reasons matter and the case for revival is stronger than most administrators realize.
Genetics Curriculum in 50 Public High Schools: What Gets Taught and What Does Not
A survey of biology curricula in 50 public high schools shows what genetics content is taught at the high school level and where the gaps are. The patterns reflect curricular history more than current science.
Lab Safety Incidents in High Schools: A Decade of OSHA Data
OSHA data on lab safety incidents in high schools across 2014-2024 reveals patterns in chemical exposures, equipment injuries, and the schools that have reduced incident rates.
The Specific Skills Strong Faculty Mentors Develop in Their Students
Faculty mentorship varies in quality across universities and faculty members. The specific developmental work that strong mentors do is concrete and worth understanding.
What Universities Are Doing About the Math Preparation Decline
Incoming first-year students at US universities have shown declining math preparation over the past five years. The institutional responses vary substantially in effectiveness.
What Happens to Students Who Skip Their Major’s Required Statistics Course
Required statistics courses sit at gateways to many majors. A study tracking students who took the course on time versus those who deferred it reveals patterns that should inform student planning.
What Engineering Schools Lose When They Drop Required Drawing Courses
Hand drawing was a standard part of engineering training for a century. Most programs eliminated it by 2010. A new look at what was lost suggests the cuts had consequences few anticipated.
Why Some Universities Are Making Calculus Optional
Calculus has been the gateway to STEM majors for half a century. A growing number of universities are reconsidering whether it should be, with data showing that many students who fail calculus would succeed in their intended fields without it.
How One Department Cut Its STEM Failure Rates by Changing the Teaching Assistant Model
Most universities use graduate students as teaching assistants in large introductory courses. A redesigned model at the University of Maryland has reduced failure rates significantly. The changes are surprisingly simple.