How did progressives try to improve education?

Before the Progressive Era many young women and minorities weren't educated to the level of white males. During that time education was all about who you were in society and not what you could be with proper education so many only finished primary school. The Progressive Era was a time when more high schools were being built allowing people from all walks of life to continue their education. Because of that movement high school became the new norm in education.

Idon’t understand a word going on right now lol