It's obvious, from some posts on this board, that reading scores and a host of other skills have been problematic in a lot of schools for decades.

Like it or not there are discrepancies in school quality and quality of students.

So, what happens with the best students in the best or even in the mediocre schools?

Meritocracy, that's what. They go on to good H.S.'s, college and or grad school, and you then see the educational and economic attainments in the States as described in the article I posted.

The irony in the hand wringing over declining reading skills by those who manifest poor reading skills, and even poorer critical thinking skills, is breathtaking and laughable.