One striking example of this knowledge gap comes from Professor Kevin Dopf’s classroom. Every year, according to the LA Times, Dopf has his students take the same USCIS Naturalization Test that immigrants must pass to become U.S. citizens.
So, how do these natural-born American students fare on the test?
"Only 35% of my students pass," Dopf says. "The rest of them are clueless. I mean, they're just clueless."
At MMS, we believe in setting a much higher standard for civic education. That’s why every Junior High student must take the 100-question Naturalization Test and score no less than 90% to graduate. This rigorous requirement ensures that MMS graduates understand the core principles of American democracy and how the government functions.