Since 1968, the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) has collected data on key education and civil rights issues in our nation's public schools for use by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), other Department offices, other federal agencies, and by policymakers and researchers outside of the Department. The CRDC has generally been collected biennially from school districts in each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia. In this summary report "Revealing New Truths About Our Nation's Schools" the CRDC reveals new truths about the journey America's young people take from prekindergarten through high school graduation. It also shines a new spotlight on whether our schools are providing the opportunity for all our students to be prepared to compete in the 21st Century global economy. Throughout this document are examples of success stories illuminated by the CRDC data--schools and districts that are making real progress in specific areas to close opportunity gaps, and K-12 schools and districts that are defying trends in pursuit of excellence.