Education: 7-4 vs. 8-4

Parents, pupils, teachers, usually agree upon the desirability of seven years instead of eight for the period of elementary and secondary school training. In some localities the eighth grade has been abolished. The new system is called “74 schooling” as opposed to “8-4.”

In Louisiana the State High School Inspector experimented. To the pupils of three average 8-4 communities and of three 7-4 communities he submitted eight standard educational tests. The 7-4 pupils scored 8.1 points higher on average, though an 8-4 school was individual high scorer. Percentages of failure in college were studied; 7-4’s and 8-4’s appeared identical.