Elementary and Secondary Education

Because school attendance is generally compulsory between ages 6 and 16, equal access to schooling at the elementary and secondary level is not an issue. However, many topics beyond access to schooling remain of critical importance from an equity standpoint, such as the extent to which males and females have access to the same types of educational opportunities, take similar advantage of these opportunities, and achieve at the same level while in school. Data on various aspects of the elementary and secondary school experiences of males and females-such as their progress through school, academic performance, access to computers, and participation in extracurricular activities-provide some indication of the extent to which gender equity in education has been achieved.