By Sarah Mervosh in the New York Times, 10 October 2023.
The article underscores the educational achievement of Defense Department schools, pointing out the persisting achievement gaps for Black and Hispanic students compared to their white peers, despite the schools’ overall success. The Defense Department’s centralized, well-planned, and stable structure, insulated from the usual turbulence of public school governance, underpins this success. It emphasizes the possibility of success with comprehensive support and a consistent, structured educational approach. The schools’ successes, while notable, also draw attention to the existing disparities that reveal the challenges that marginalized groups continue to face within the educational system.