October 16, 2012 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

High school math courses and college attendance in two generations

Percent distribution of high school students born in 1957–1964 and 1980–1984 by the highest level of mathematics courses taken
Highest high school mathematics level	Born in 1957–1964	Born in 1980–1984
Calculus	2.1	11.2
Precalculus, trigonometry, and advanced math	8.3	23.6
Algebra 2	22.8	27.9
Algebra and geometry	40.6	26.9
General math, consumer math, and pre-algebra	26.4	10.4

Percent of persons born in 1957–1964 and 1980–1984 who attended college by the highest level of high school mathematics courses taken
Highest high school mathematics level	Born in 1957–1964	Born in 1980–1984
Total	53.0	67.0
Calculus	2.0	11.0
Precalculus, trigonometry, and advanced math	7.4	21.6
Algebra 2	17.1	19.5
Algebra and geometry	20.8	12.3
General math, consumer math, and pre-algebra	5.7	2.6

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