The average reading and mathematics scores on the long-term-trend National Assessment of Educational Progress were higher in 2004 than in the early 1970s for 9-year-olds and 13-year-olds.

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress

SECURITY CAMERAS

During the 2003-04 school year, 28 percent of primary schools, 42 percent of middle schools and 60 percent of high schools used one or more security cameras to monitor the school.

Source: Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006

SCIENCE KNOWS NO RURAL BOUNDS

In 2005, the percentages of rural public school students who scored at or above the "proficient" level in science were similar to those of their suburban peers (in the fourth grade, eighth grade and 12th grade).

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress

NEW CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY WILL OPEN IN FLORIDA

The first new Catholic university in the United States in 40 years, Ave Maria University — the creation of Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza and former owner of the Detroit Tigers — will open next month in southwest Florida.

The nearly 5,000-acre project is 20 miles east of North Naples and about 5 miles south of the town of Immokalee. Ave Maria is seen as a catalyst to broaden and strengthen the economy of Immokalee, a town with a long agricultural history and a large population of poor migrant farm workers.

Monaghan partnered with town developer Barron Collier Companies to create Ave Maria Development. Construction costs for the project are estimated at $400 million.

Source: The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press