Are American schools really as bad as people say they are?

lol Based off your last sentence, NO, they are not as bad as you think. Public schools are rather hit and miss. For as many bad schools as there are, there are just as many really nice schools. Private or semi-private school is typically where a child will get a better education and more one-on-one time. As for colleges, we have some of the most prestige ivy league schools in the world.

Mainly communites with a high black population are going to have schools like that. Just because that's how it is, not to be racist. You really need to review a public school before you send your kid to it. Some out perform another drastically.

I am an Australian and have no first hand knowledge of the US educational system,but the majority of people I have met from the States seem to have very narrow outlooks,are dogmatic not being open to the suggestion that there are other opinions or more definitive information,and in particular rarely know anything of global affairs,political structure,history,cultural traditions,geography.Their knowledge is limited to the areas of interest to the US Government.Most European,Commonwealth Nations,Australasia,Pacific Oceania educational systems are more comprehensive and basic international studies are the norm.Do not get me wrong, I have a strong affinity with the United States. and this is only a criticism of the system, not the people.

Nooooo, that's only in the movies. Of course, like in all schools, there will be a bad crowd, but honestly, it's not bad at all.

So is that what they're saying about us in Canada? SCREW YOU CANADA!!!

I'm assuming you're talking about public school? And are you talking about academics or safety? Where I live, the public schools are very bad. A few years ago, a fourth grader brought a gun to school. Not long before that, a middle schooler brought in a shotgun. When I was little, 2 middle schools had shootings in the same year. The high school has had 4 lockdowns in 6 years. Our test scores are at the bottom of our state. Many teachers and coacheshave been arrested for molestation and statutory rape. We have a running joke that instead of snow days, we get meth lab busts. Yes, we have metal detectors and drug dogs. No prison bars or razor wire, though However, in many well off areas, the schools are very good, both in terms of academics and safety. Test scores are great, a wide range of extracurriculars are offered, and students have yet to see a shooting, lockdown, or drug bust. Often it depends on how affluent the area is; however, gifted students can be bussed to charter or magnet schools. Where you're talking about, you will have several private schools to choose from if you decide you don't like the public schools. I would suggest taking a tour of them when you move there. Good luck.

With MIT, Harvard, Yale, Tufts, Brown, and many more, I would say, no, we do not have bad schools here speaking generally. What I mean to say is, don't stereotype that American schools are "bad". "American schools" are all different. For high schools-it depends on the area and the school completely. Canada.....

Who are "these people"? The US is so large and so diverse, you cannot phrase a question this way without making sweeping generalizations. Good night.

LOL prison type fences?! well hmm like you said it does vary greatly with the area, i went to a high school in long island, New York and the school had an excellent reputation, pretty decent kids..i guess it would be a completely different experience 20 minutes away in Queens, New York; I've been to Canada and...umm yea very different experience..there is no place like New York, I have some friends in Canada who attend high school and honestly they are the laziest people...they get no work from school...they play on their wii all day...i just don't understand how people can live like that...there are many educational oppertunities where I live