Back in 2005, when 90% of the students in Wake County Schools passed state achievement exams, the New York Times ran an article lauding our world-class schools, attributing their success to the School Board’s ‘diversity’ policy.

Well, last week, our world-class schools vanished into thin air. It turns out for years, critics have been criticizing the state achievement tests as too easy – so, at last, the state made the tests harder. As a result Wake County’s passing rate dropped 20 points, and 57 out of 61 of our ‘Excellent Schools’ are no longer excellent. So much for diversity as a measurement of academic achievement.

So, what happens next?

Here’s a guess: Before the next election the state will dumb down the tests again. After all, there’s no way legislators voting to spend $10 billion a year on education want their own testing arm saying 37% of the students are failing. That would be first-rate fodder for their opponents’ campaigns.

So, before the next election, Raleigh will get its world-class ranking back, diversity will be a success again, and the School Board will be able to bask in its newfound excellence.

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