By Carmen Graciela Díaz Public high school graduates in America do not seem to know what they do not know. Even though recently graduated students gave their public schools, teachers, and counselors positive evaluations, certain aspects of reality hit hard. They are realizing that they are not as prepared as they thought they were to navigate academia or the work force. This is one of the main findings of the national survey conducted by the consulting firm Bendixen & Amandi International among high school graduates in order to determine their experience in school and the quality of education they had received. From August 10 to August 21 of 2015, 2,200 young people (including 600 Hispanics and 600 African-Americans), who had graduated one or two years before were surveyed. One of the aspects of the study was precisely to compare the experience of Hispanics and African-Americans with that of the rest of their peers. 30% of Hispanics surveyed said their high school deserves a grade of “A” Those polled, mostly between the ages of 18 and 20, had a positive perception of high school. When evaluating the preparation they received, 30% of Hispanics surveyed said their high school deserves a grade of “A,” and 45% believed the school earned a “B.” Meanwhile, the quality of education they received from their high school teachers was described by 30% as “Excellent” and by 50% as “Good.” It is worth questioning whether “good” is sufficient with respect to education, and what aspects need to be adjusted so that teacher and student excellence prevails. Students also had positive opinions of counselors and teachers, given...
