The Lake Wobegon Effect Revisited

Abstract

In the summer 1988 Issue of EM, John Cannell presented evidence Indicating that most states and schools are scoring above average on nationally normed elementary achievement tests. This phenomenon has come to be known as the Lake Wobegon Effect after the mythical town of Lake Wobegon where all children are above average. The summer 1988 Issue also Included commentaries on Cannels work by representatives of major test publishers and officials In the U.S. Department of Education. In this follow‐up article, Cannell responds to criticisms of his previous work.