In the Classroom: A Look at Education Through the Lens of Race

National poll looks at how the races view education.

Get Schooled - Despite the horror stories one often hears about the value of an urban public school education, the latest College Board/National Journal Next America poll finds that African-American and Latino parents feel that their local schools are doing a good job preparing their children for college. Keep reading to see how races view the value of education, the nation's direction and how the president is handling his job.   (Photo: Jon Feingersh/Getty Images)

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Get Schooled - Despite the horror stories one often hears about the value of an urban public school education, the latest College Board/National Journal Next America poll finds that African-American and Latino parents feel that their local schools are doing a good job preparing their children for college. Keep reading to see how races view the value of education, the nation's direction and how the president is handling his job.  (Photo: Jon Feingersh/Getty Images)

Elementary Education - "The president wants to make universal, quality early childhood education available to every child in the country and reiterated his call. The research shows that that is the area where you can make the most progress. I think he laid down a marker that's very important for the country and give him high marks," said Rep. Chakah Fattah (D-Pennsylvania).  (Photo: Nancy Louie/Getty Images)

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Faith in Local Schools - When asked whether their local elementary middle and high schools are preparing their children to perform college work successfully, 60 percent of Blacks said yes, compared to 50 percent of whites, 64 percent of Latinos and 55 percent of Asians.  (Photo: Nancy Louie/Getty Images)

Looking Back - Seventy-one percent of white parents said they believe their high school educations prepared them to succeed in college, compared to 69 percent of Blacks, 67 percent of Hispanics and 66 percent of Asians.   (Photo: Blend Images - KidStock/Getty Images)

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Looking Back - Seventy-one percent of white parents said they believe their high school educations prepared them to succeed in college, compared to 69 percent of Blacks, 67 percent of Hispanics and 66 percent of Asians. (Photo: Blend Images - KidStock/Getty Images)

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Parents Loom Largest in Post-High School Decisions - When asked whose advice matters most when deciding what to do after high school, their parents were cited by 55 percent of African-Americans, 58 percent of Asians, 47 percent of Latinos and 56 percent of whites, followed by guidance counselors and teachers, friends and themselves. (Photo: Comstock/Getty Images)

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Parents Prefer Their Kids Go to College - Heading off to college was the number-one choice of 37 percent of African-American and white parents or legal guardians, 36 percent of Latinos and 55 percent of Asians.  (Photo: Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images)

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Who Went Where? - After earning a high school diploma, 60 percent of Asians, 17 percent of Latinos, 25 percent of Blacks and 29 percent of whites chose to attend a four-year college. Twenty-eight percent of Asians, 36 percent of Latinos, 39 percent of Blacks and 38 percent of whites entered the workforce. (Photo: Henry Chaplin/Getty Images)

For Some, College Is Not an Option - Overall, nearly 60 percent of respondents said they could not afford more education; more than 50 percent said they were eager to begin a career and about 40 percent said they needed to help support their families. Other reasons included not wanting to incur loans, not getting much information about college and simply not liking school. Approximately 25 percent said they felt their education had not prepared them for college and 10 percent said their families or counselors had discouraged them from seeking higher education.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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For Some, College Is Not an Option - Overall, nearly 60 percent of respondents said they could not afford more education; more than 50 percent said they were eager to begin a career and about 40 percent said they needed to help support their families. Other reasons included not wanting to incur loans, not getting much information about college and simply not liking school. Approximately 25 percent said they felt their education had not prepared them for college and 10 percent said their families or counselors had discouraged them from seeking higher education. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Others Believe College Equals Opportunity - At 87 percent, the overwhelming reason cited for pursuing a college education or vocational training immediately after high school is that it is the route to a well-paying job. Eighty-five percent said they wanted to learn new things and 68 percent said their families expected them to get a post-secondary education.  (Photo: Troels Graugaard/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Troels Graugaard/Getty Images

CON: You Could Miss Out on a Valuable Experience - Many employers value hands-on work experience and proven success more than multiple degrees. Continuing school, especially if you go directly from undergrad, rather than working in your field first, can make you an expensive entry-level worker if you haven’t actually worked. (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)

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Transitioning to College and the Workplace - For those who went to college, more than 45 percent said the biggest challenge was time management, followed by financial pressures and being on their own. Forty-nine percent of those who entered the workforce found the transition to be very easy, compared to 37 percent who went back to school.  (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)

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Do Over: College? - More than 60 percent said that if they had the chance to do it over again, they would still attend a four-year college and overall, 90 percent said they would seek post-secondary education. (Photo: Ana Abejon/Getty Images)

Photo By Ana Abejon/Getty Images

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Get to Know Your Professors - Don’t be the student whose face blends into the crowd. Take an initiative to know your professors, go to office hours and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Getting to know them can translate into a mentorship, letters of recommendation and career advice. (Photo: Peathegee Inc/Getty Images)

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Do Over: Workforce, Military or Other? - Overall, 44 percent said they would still get a job or enter the military, but 54 percent said they would pursue a college education or vocational training.  (Photo: Peathegee Inc/Getty Images)

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Moving in the Right or Wrong Direction - Nearly 70 percent of whites, about 32 percent of Blacks, close to 50 percent of Latinos and 30 percent of Asians said the country is heading in the wrong direction. (Photo: Matt McClain/For The Washington Post)

President Barack Obama  - "At home, his legacy will depend on the success of Obamacare, and yet the historic incompetence of its launch nearly destroyed the program. But he’s also right: we have seen only the first 66 percent of Obama’s presidency." — Joe Klein    (Photo: EPA/CRAIG LASSIG /LANDOV)

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Obama and the Racial Divide - Seventy-eight percent of Blacks, 51 percent of Latinos, 72 percent of Asians and 33 percent of whites said they approve of the way President Obama is handling his job.  (Photo: EPA/CRAIG LASSIG /LANDOV)