Jay Mathews

Charters serving low-income areas dominate the list of the nation’s most challenging high schools.

Grades awarded by teachers in report cards can sometimes distort how much students are learning. We sometimes complain but do little about it.

A disappointing score on Advanced Placement exams can be a powerful incentive for some students.

“Grade retention,” coupled with other interventions, can help students catch up.

After persistent “savage inequalities” in school funding, some experts say the spending gaps are being closed.

A study of the KIPP charter network found that students who attended KIPP middle and high schools were more likely to complete college than similar students outside of KIPP.

The battle in American education over two loaded adjectives, “gifted” and “advanced,” has raged behind the scenes for decades. But that may change.

We should appreciate this great adventure of choosing a college will often be messy and incomplete. But you will eventually stumble on something wonderful.

The affirmative action debate misses the fact that most kids just want a good education, and high schools are improving their ability to provide it.

Annie Abrams has received well-deserved praise for her book, “Shortchanged: How Advanced Placement Cheats Students.” I have been trading thoughts with her in hopes of finding some agreement on what we need to do for AP classes.