Seniors Handle Broad Economic Principles

But first NAEP in subject shows basics trip high schoolers.

Washington

American students have a solid grasp of many broad economic principles, but they often lack a basic knowledge of the facts, rules, and institutions that shape their daily lives as citizens and consumers in a market economy.

That was how a number of experts who study and teach economics interpreted the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress , which tested students on the subject for the first time.

Even so, those observers said they were mildly encouraged by the results showing that nearly 80 percent of high school seniors tested scored at or above the “basic” achievement level on the NAEP exam in economics. Forty-two percent of test-takers reached the “proficient” level or above. Just 3 percent scored at...