The United States is falling behind other countries in the number of people who finish high school 

Compared to other countries, most people in the United States have a good chance of getting an education.  Education is free.  Everyone gets the chance to go to high school.    

High school graduation rates were always higher in the United States than in other similar countries.  A recent report shows that may be changing.  

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development looked at education in 29 of the world's richest countries.  It showed that the number of people graduating from high school is now higher in other countries than it is in the United States.  This has changed in the past 40 years.  In the 1950s, about 77 percent of people graduated from high school.  This was the highest graduation rate among the 29 countries.  The graduation rate in the United States is now at 72 percent.  The rates in other countries have risen.  Now the rate of the United States is among the lowest, ranking just above Mexico.  

The United States has always tried to educate everyone.  This is different than other countries where only the best and brightest are sent for higher education.  But now businesses in other countries are demanding more educated workers.  They want people to finish high school. The graduation rates are rising.  

More US students enter college than do students in any of the other 28 countries.  But the United States has the highest college dropout rate at 37 percent, or just above one-third. The report shows that children of college-educated parents are most likely to finish college.    

There is a big gap between how the children of higher income parents, who are well educated, and the children of less educated, lower income parents, do in school.  This shows that it is not as easy to rise up in the social classes as people may think.

More US students enter college than in any other of the 29 countries.  But the US has the highest college dropout rate at 37percent, or just above one-third. The report showed that children of college-educated parents are most likely to finish college.