Factsheet

Contact Information:
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communications@davidsongifted.org

NATIONAL STATISTICS
Why our Nation Needs to Educate our Gifted and Talented Youth

High School

·         In the fourth grade, U.S. students score above the international average in math and near first in science.  At eighth grade, they score below average in math, and only slightly above average in science.  By 12th grade, U.S. students are near the bottom of a 49-country survey in both math and science, outscoring only Cyprus and South Africa. (William R. Brody, president of Johns Hopkins University, Congressional testimony; July 2005)

·         Less than 15 percent of U.S. students have the prerequisites even to pursue scientific or technical degrees in college. (William R. Brody, president of Johns Hopkins University, Congressional testimony; July 2005)

·         88% of high school dropouts had passing grades, but dropped out due to boredom. (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: “The Silent Epidemic”; March 2006)

·         Four-fifths (81%) of teachers surveyed believe that "our advanced students need special attention - they are the future leaders of this country, and their talents will enable us to compete in a global economy." (High Achieving Students in the Era of NCLB, 2008)

Bachelor Degrees

·         The number of students in the United States planning to pursue engineering degrees declined by one-third between 1992 and 2002. (The Business Roundtable; July 2005)

·         Only 11 percent of bachelor’s degrees in the United States are in the sciences or engineering, compared with 23 percent in the rest of the world and 50 percent in China. (National Summit on Competitiveness; December 2005)

·         Universities in Asian countries now produce eight times as many bachelor’s degrees in engineering as the United States. (National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2004 cited in The World Is Flat, Release 2.0, Ch. 8, p. 331)

·         In 2003, only 31 percent of American college graduates scored at the proficient level in literacy, compared with 40 percent in 1992. (National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003 cited in The World Is Flat, Release 2.0, Ch. 8, p. 339)

Advanced Degrees

·         China graduates about 500,000 engineers per year, while India produces 200,000 and the United States turns out a mere 70,000. (National Academy of Sciences: “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”; October 2005)

·         The United States in 1970 produced more than half of the world’s Ph.D.s.  But if patterns continue, it will be lucky to produce 15 percent of the world’s doctorates by 2010.  (National Bureau of Economic Research; May 2005)

Workforce/Career Choices

·         About one-third of all jobs in the United States require science or technology competency, but currently only 17 percent of Americans graduate with science or technology majors … in China, fully 52 percent of college degrees awarded are in science and technology.  (William R. Brody, president of Johns Hopkins University, Congressional testimony; July 2005)

·         The percentage of American women choosing math and computer science careers fell four percentage points between 1993 and 1999. (National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2004 cited in The World Is Flat, Release 2.0, Ch. 8, p. 332)

Patents

·         45% of new U.S. patents are granted now to foreigners.  (Education Week “A Quiet Crisis is Clouding the Future of R&D”; May 2005)

·         Only three of the top 10 recipients of U.S. patents in 2003 were American companies. (National Academy of Sciences: “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”; October 2005)

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Davidson Institute for Talent Development
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