“Four years ago, about 4,900 ninth grades began their high school career in the Boston Public schools. Today there are about 3,400 twelth graders. Nearly one third -- 1500 students -- have dropped out of the class in three and a half years. Almost half of the group that hopes to graduate (1,648) in six months' time has not passed the required standardized test (MCAS).” Standardized TestsTony WagnerReinvent Schools Book:Making the Grade: Reinventing America's Schools Source: Making the Grade: Reinventing America's Schools