While Saratoga High prides itself on its rigorous academics, the same cannot be said for many other schools in California. For example, while only 12 percent of Saratoga High School students scored below proficient on California Standards Tests (CST) exams,  50 percent of California high school in the state did not reach the proficient benchmark.

To help close the gap between high-performing and low-performing schools, California adopted the Common Core standards in 2010, and an implementation plan was approved early in 2012. It ensures that students “will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs.”

There are four anchor standards or strands: reading, writing, speaking and listening and language. Each strand has specific standards that students must reach.

These standards are not specific to subjects; instead, they will focus on interdisciplinarity, the combination of two or more academic disciplines into one activity, similar to the way the school’s Media Arts Program combines English and history.

For example, standards in reading will also be the responsibility of the science and social studies classes, not only English classes. In 11th grade English, students must cite thorough textual evidence to support what the text says and where the text leaves meanings ambiguous. In science, students must cite textual evidence in science and in technical text, and in history, students must use thorough textual evidence in historical readings.

The standards are well articulated and clear. At the same time, they still allow teachers flexibility.

Currently, every state has a different set of standards, making it hard to fairly compare one state’s educational achievement with another. However, Common Core standards are standardized across the nation and can be used to compare standardized scores equally among the states.

While some argue that the Common Core standards would lower standards of high-achieving states to find middle ground with lower-achieving states, the Common Core standards website states that no state will have to lower its standards.

In a 2009 study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 15-year-olds in the United States ranked 25th among students of the same age from 34 countries on a math test.

In order to improve international educational rankings for the U.S, the Common Core standards are internationally benchmarked to compare favorably to standards of other countries.

These clear standards for requirements of each grade level will be beneficial for everyone.

Although it may be hard for students and teachers to adjust at first,the Common Core approach can only mean a new beginning for the United States’ lackluster primary and secondary education.