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World History and Geography Gain Traction In Class

Seeds of internationally themed lessons were planted in the 1980s.

Long belittled for their ignorance of foreign cultures—not to mention an inability to locate well-known countries on world maps—an increasing number of U.S. high school students are taking courses designed to expand their international knowledge.

A recent federal study shows that the percentage of American students taking world history and world geography in high school has risen faster than enrollment in any other social studies classes over the past 15 years.

Educators and advocates who have fought to expand the teaching of internationally themed lessons have been heartened by those findings, which were included in a study released last month of high school transcripts among students who took the National...