--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We believed we could prepare our kids for…" description: "\"We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/barack-obama-17_all-time_we-believed-we-could-prepare-our-kids-fo_67710.jpg" --- # We believed we could prepare our kids for a more… ![“We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. And more Americans finish college than ever before.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/barack-obama-17_all-time_we-believed-we-could-prepare-our-kids-fo_67710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/barack-obama-17_all-time_we-believed-we-could-prepare-our-kids-fo_67710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/barack-obama-17_all-time_we-believed-we-could-prepare-our-kids-fo_67710.jpg) > “We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. And more Americans finish college than ever before.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage highlights the success of educational reforms in raising academic achievement and college attendance, suggesting that investment in schooling yields measurable improvements. **In simple terms:** Education reforms boost achievement and college enrollment. Key Takeaway Policy-driven schooling can elevate national academic outcomes. Themes education policy achievement equity social mobility Mood optimistic proud inspirational Type policy statement achievement report When to use this quote - school district planning - state education budgeting - parental expectations - college counseling Key Concepts public schooling standardized testing graduation rates college access Practical Applications - designing curriculum standards - allocating education funding Questions to Reflect On - What factors most contributed to the score gains? - How can these gains be sustained over time? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-time/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [High school graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school-graduation/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-competitive-897532/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Prepare Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-kids-662773/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-graduation/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-earned-897531/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Throw in the intensity of emotions that come with that bittersweet summer sandwiched between high school graduation and the rest of your life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/throw-in-the-intensity-of-emotions-that-come-with-that-bittersweet/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I was given a new coat as a high school graduation gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-was-given-a-new-coat-as-a-high-school-graduation-gift/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards.My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-freund/at-commencement-you-wear-your-square-shaped-mortarboards-my-hope-is/) [Paul A. Freund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-freund/) > [Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/don-t-let-the-noise-of-others-opinions-drown-out-your-own-inner-voice/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The morning after my high-school graduation found me up early job hunting. The dream of college I put on the back burner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-reeves/the-morning-after-my-high-school-graduation-found-me-up-early-job/) [Martha Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-reeves/) > [You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lloyd-george/you-can-t-cross-a-chasm-in-two-small-jumps/) [David Lloyd George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lloyd-george/) > [Openness isn't the end; it's the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/openness-isn-t-the-end-it-s-the-beginning/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [“The national high school graduation average is 82 percent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hartley/the-national-high-school-graduation-average-is-82-percent/) [Scott Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hartley/) > [Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value. Look around at how people want to get more out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/try-not-to-become-a-man-of-success-but-a-man-of-value-look-around-at/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." "Don't cry because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/be-who-you-are-and-say-what-you-feel-because-those-who-mind-don-t-2/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/you-can-steer-yourself-in-any-direction-you-choose/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [I thought I should go to New York because it was the place to go to study. I went and tried to get an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-forrester/i-thought-i-should-go-to-new-york-because-it-was-the-place-to-go-to/) [Maureen Forrester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-forrester/) > [It is clear the future holds great opportunities. It also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to avoid the pitfalls, seize the opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/it-is-clear-the-future-holds-great-opportunities-it-also-holds/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/my-favorite-animal-is-the-turtle-the-reason-is-that-in-order-for-the/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More All time quotes > [To be positive at all times is to ignore all that is important, sacred or valuable. To be negative at all times is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/to-be-positive-at-all-times-is-to-ignore-all-that-is-important-sacred/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [I don't know whether we think in moving images or whether we think in still images. I have a suspicion that on our hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-snow/i-don-t-know-whether-we-think-in-moving-images-or-whether-we-think-in/) [Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-snow/) > [I'm big on tomato mozzarella salad. That's my favorite all-time food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-fields/i-m-big-on-tomato-mozzarella-salad-that-s-my-favorite-all-time-food/) [Jan Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-fields/) > [If you are my friend,you are down for me at all times,not just when it's convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-v/if-you-are-my-friend-you-are-down-for-me-at-all-times-not-just-when/) [Jasmine V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-v/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Perhaps if only once you did enjoy The thousandth part of all the happiness A heart beloved enjoys, returning love, Repentant, you would surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquato-tasso/perhaps-if-only-once-you-did-enjoy-the-thousandth-part-of-all-the/) [Torquato Tasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquato-tasso/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [For all the concern about bodies and weight, 'Baywatch' has three huge catering trucks on the set at all times. One for entrees, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eggert/for-all-the-concern-about-bodies-and-weight-baywatch-has-three-huge/) [Nicole Eggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eggert/) > ['Lost Boys' is one of my all-time faves. I just thought it would be great to be a vampire. I remember this movie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/lost-boys-is-one-of-my-all-time-faves-i-just-thought-it-would-be/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I have a constant kind of soundtrack going on at all times. I almost always have a song in my head. I'm very musically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-davie/i-have-a-constant-kind-of-soundtrack-going-on-at-all-times-i-almost/) [Erin Davie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-davie/) > [Lord, make me less like Jonah and more like Jesus. 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