More (not so) fun facts:
54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.
21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.
High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.
it's never been better if you are rich.
if you are not rich, it's backsliding.
same with the economy too. if you are rich, you'll never done better, but if you aren't, you can't get ahead no matter how hard you try.
40 years ago the difference between being rich and poor, didn't matter as much in terms of education and opportunity. there wasn't a huge gulf between rich schools and poor schools. now there is a huge gulf between rich schools and middle class schools.