Editing Guam (section)

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Guam}}
[[File:Umatac Outdoor Library 1.jpg|thumb|The [[Umatac Outdoor Library]], built in 1933, was the first library in southern Guam.]]
[[Guam Public Library System]] operates the Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library in [[Hagåtña]] and five branch libraries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opaguam.org/sites/default/files/CITIZEN-CENTRIC%20REPORT%20FY2011_0.pdf|title=Guam Public Library System – A Report To Our Citizens|access-date=September 25, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918022432/http://www.opaguam.org/sites/default/files/CITIZEN-CENTRIC%20REPORT%20FY2011_0.pdf|archive-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref>

The [[Guam Department of Education]] serves the entire island of Guam. In 2000, 32,000 students attended Guam's public schools, including 26 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and six high schools and alternative schools. Guam Public Schools have struggled with problems such as high dropout rates and poor test scores.<ref name=Merrow>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/merrow/tv/ftw/intro.html|title=Merrow Report: First to Worst|website=[[PBS]]|access-date=November 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810064606/https://www.pbs.org/merrow/tv/ftw/intro.html|archive-date=August 10, 2007}}</ref><ref name=State>{{cite web|url=http://www.nagb.org/pubs/1996science/stat_tbl.html#tab10|year=1996|title=State Comparisons|access-date=November 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713093749/http://www.nagb.org/pubs/1996science/stat_tbl.html#tab10|archive-date=July 13, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

Guam's educational system has always faced unique challenges as a small community located {{convert|6000|mi|km}} from the U.S. mainland with a very diverse student body including many students who come from backgrounds without traditional American education.<ref name=Peabody>{{cite journal|last=Grace|first=Ted|author2=Teresita Salos|title=Guam's Education Marches On|journal=Peabody Journal of Education|volume=44|issue=1|pages=37–39|year=1966|doi=10.1080/01619566609537383}}</ref> An economic downturn in Guam since the mid-1990s has compounded the problems in schools.<ref name="Guam Legislature">{{cite web|url=http://www.guamlegislature.com/25th_Guam_Legislature/Bills_Introduced_25th/Bill%20No.%20089.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214003451/http://www.guamlegislature.com/25th_Guam_Legislature/Bills_Introduced_25th/Bill%20No.%20089.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 14, 2007|year=1999|title=An act to establish a guam parental school choice program|access-date=November 8, 2007}}</ref>

Before September 1997, the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] partnered with the Guam Board of Education.<ref>"[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glp&search=%22rats%2c%20other%20problems%20face%20guam%20schools%22&img=\\na0041\6800243\56035875_clean.html Rats, other problems face Guam schools] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119144600/http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glp&search=%22rats%2c%20other%20problems%20face%20guam%20schools%22&img=%5C%5Cna0041%5C6800243%5C56035875_clean.html|date=January 19, 2012}}." ''[[Pacific Stars and Stripes]]''. October 3, 1993.</ref> In September 1997, the [[Department of Defense Education Activity]] (DoDEA) opened its own schools for children of military personnel.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120912002508/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=12381 Guam School to Be Renamed in Honor of NASA Astronaut William McCool|SpaceRef – Your Space Reference]. SpaceRef (August 21, 2003). Retrieved June 13, 2012.</ref> DoDEA schools, which also serve children of some federal civilian employees, had an attendance of 2,500 in 2000. DoDEA Guam operates three elementary/middle schools and [[Guam High School (Guam)|one high school]].<ref name=DODEA>{{cite web|url=http://www.pac.dodea.edu/aboutus/contacts/ContactSchools.htm|title=District and School Contact Information|work=pac.dodea.edu|access-date=May 10, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509143001/http://www.pac.dodea.edu/aboutus/contacts/ContactSchools.htm|archive-date=May 9, 2006}}</ref>

The [[University of Guam]] (UOG) and [[Guam Community College]], both fully accredited by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]], offer courses in higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/june/06%2D15%2Ded.htm|date=June 15, 2006|work=Pacific Islands Report|title=Politics Trumps Performance in Guam School System|access-date=June 16, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006101300/http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/june/06-15-ed.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2007}}</ref> UOG is a member of the exclusive group of only 106 [[land-grant university|land-grant institutions]] in the entire United States. [[Pacific Islands University]] is a small Christian liberal arts institution, nationally accredited by the [[Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools]].