The Anti-Lake-Wobegon Effect

[Theophylact]

The tests being used are formulated so that 50 percent of the test-takers will fall below the median score -- in effect setting school districts up for failure no matter how much preparation students receive, he said.

Uhh... Professor...

[J-Excel]

o_O

And just by coincidence 50% fall above the median. What are the odds?

My suspicion (hope) is that this was a slip and he actual meant minimal passing score.

[ShawnD1]

He's not lying but he is being a bit misleading.

The median is the middle number of statics. Say you have 9 numbers all arranged from lowest to highest. The median will be the fifth number. By definition, almost 50% will ALWAYS be below the median. It's impossible to avoid having (around) 50% below the median.