The authors’ main purpose in this text is to explain the difference between high schools that are successful and those that are failing. They describe the historical role of American high schools in promoting social mobility and cohesion, and they highlight the current issues faced by underperforming high schools, particularly in struggling communities.
"Pride of Community High Schools Can Be Again"
by Robert Balfanz and John Bridgeland
The American high school has played a storied, unappreciated role in our nation’s success. Through much of the last century, it served as a driver of individual mobility, economic growth, and social cohesion. The provision of universal public high schooling provided an avenue of advancement for families of modest means and over time, impoverished and discriminated communities. In many areas, students from the wealthy and poor sides of town sat side by side in classrooms and experienced the rituals of high school together.
Today, however, in the places that need them the most — locales that have been unable to make the pivot from the 20th to 21st century economy — there are too many high schools no longer fulfilling that promise. After more than a decade of progress in improving high school graduation rates, there remain about 1,300 traditional high schools in need of serious improvement and redesign. From the inner city to the heartland of America, these low-performing high schools are concentrated in struggling communities that sit at the fault lines of race, class, and inequality in America.
Left unattended, these schools will lead to a persistent, geographically bound, underclass with implications for our society, economy and democracy.
A photo shows a high school building.
Source: Jesse Kunerth. Shutterstock
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Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
What is the authors’ main purpose in this text?
(1 point)
Responses
to describe the role that businesses and nonprofits can play in serving youth
to describe the role that businesses and nonprofits can play in serving youth
to explain the difference between high schools that are successful and those that are failing
to explain the difference between high schools that are successful and those that are failing
to explain why having a strong high school education is important for career success
to explain why having a strong high school education is important for career success
to argue that connecting high schools with their communities will improve the schools
to argue that connecting high schools with their communities will improve the schools
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