IDAHO FALLS - A recent nationwide report shows cheating is a crisis in our country.

Surveys state 3 in 5 high school students admit cheating on an exam and more than 4 in 5 admit copying another student's homework in the past 12 months.

Issues such as low self esteem from low grades and putting academic achievement above learned knowledge are just a couple of factors.

Then again, we've all been there...writing down answers to a homework assignment that was forgotten about or just not done. But when does something small like that become cheating?

"I think it all is," says Skyline High Counselor,Ty Shippen. "Cheating in itself is not good. i know students come in though and compare answers prior to, and different assignments, but especially like the big things, the exams, those have to be straight up with what you are doing."

"Copying of the assignments for homework becomes a problem when the assessment is given later," explains Skyline High Assistant Principal, Matt Hancock.

When a student doesn't do the homework... they don't learn the material... Then suffer on exams. This will lead to more problems down the road.

"Whether its an assessment now or an assessment later, those areas that you missed out on, you're going to have to pick up at some time," says Hancock.

And that could lead to filling those gaps...with cheating.

I asked Hancock, "Do you feel cheating is a problem here at Skyline High?"
"No, not at Skyline High School," he replied. "I mean, I think cheating is an issue we deal with and want to keep in the forefront of our mind, but i don't see it as a common thing place everyday."

"You have your isolated situations where students actually get caught doing things there not supposed to do but i think for for the most part things are going pretty well, I don't see it as a huge problem, but I know it happens," says Shippen.

Another huge factor for cheating is the economy. Kids become stressed to have a higher grade point average to get more scholarships to pay for college. But there are still plenty of scholarships and programs to help.
If you're a parent or student, talk to your counselor for more information.