The indicators in this section of The Condition of Education examine student achievement and other outcomes of education among students in elementary and secondary education and among adults in the larger society. There are 27 indicators in this section. The indicators on student achievement show how students are performing on assessments in reading, mathematics, science, and other academic subject areas; trends over time in student achievement; and gaps in achievement. The indicators in this section are organized into five subsections.

The indicators in the first subsection trace the gains in achievement and specific reading and mathematics skills of children through the early years of elementary education. Children enter school with varying levels of knowledge and skill. Measures of these early childhood competencies represent important indicators of students' future prospects both inside and outside of the classroom. Two indicators (8-2004 and 8-2005) highlight changes in student achievement for a cohort of children who began kindergarten in fall 1998 as they progressed through 3rd grade in 2001–02.

The indicators in the second subsection report trends in student performance by age or grade in the later years of elementary education through high school. As students progress through school, it is important to know the extent to which they are acquiring necessary skills and becoming proficient in challenging subject matter. Academic outcomes are basically measured in three ways: as the change in students’ average performance over time, as the change in the percentage of students achieving predetermined levels of achievement, and through international comparisons of national averages. Several indicators in this section (such as 12-2008 and 13-2008) show the achievement of students in reading at grades 4, 8, and 12 and in mathematics at grades 4 and 8. Two indicators (14-2008 and 15-2008) feature writing and economics scores. Another indicator (13-2007) highlights achievement in science for students in these grades. Also, several indicators (18-2008, 19-2008, 12-2005, 17-2007 and 17-2006) examine skills in reading, mathematics, and science at the international level. Together, indicators in the first two subsections help to create a composite picture of academic achievement in U.S. schools.

In addition to academic achievement, there are adult literacy measures in the third subsection and socially and culturally desirable outcomes of education in the fourth subsection. These outcomes, which are measured here by adult literacy, adult reading habits, and the health status of individuals, contribute to an educated, capable, and engaged citizenry.

The fifth subsection looks specifically at the economic outcomes of education. Economic outcomes include the likelihood of being employed, the salaries paid to individuals with varying levels of educational attainment, the job and career satisfaction of employees, and other measures of economic well being and productivity.