Gates Education Grants Earn Average Grades

Although described by some observers as an “unparalleled force” in U.S. education, the Gates Foundation has achieved only limited success in its efforts to revamp American schools, reports The Washington Post.

Since its inception, the foundation has donated $1.5-billion to American high schools, helping to open 1,100 and support 700 more through grants of various sizes. The foundation also subsidizes education think tanks and academic-policy groups.

Many of those efforts have led to encouraging results: According to studies by the foundation, the schools it sponsors have high rates of attendance and students’ English and reading scores have improved.

Math and science scores remain stagnant, however, and a few schools that have received Gates money have closed. In addition, the article says that Gates grants place exacting demands on recipients.