Recruiting top teachers

Countries that top the scales on international tests of student achievement tend to place a strong emphasis on attracting, retaining, and supporting the best teachers. Whereas top-performing nations recruit all of their new teachers from the top third of academic performers, in the United States only 23% of teachers come from the top third of their college class.

Closing the talent gap: Attracting and retaining top-third graduates to careers in teaching by Byron Auguste, Paul Kihn, and Matt Miller of McKinsey and Co. examines this issue and outlines some ideas the United States might adopt. For further information, read the full report.