Nicola Sturgeon has visited a school in Brooklyn to learn how standards in Scottish schools can be improved.

The stop was the first on a four day US trip for the First Minister with a series of engagements in New York and Washington DC, including an appearance on the satirical news programme the Daily Show.

The Scottish Government said Daniel Hale Williams elementary has “faced similar issues to schools in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas” and that lessons learnt from improving standards in schools in Brooklyn could play a role in the raising of educational attainment in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon has said that improving education is a “defining priority” for her government and she has previously visited schools in London as part of a project to learn from “good practice” in the UK and overseas.

Education has become a major issue in the Scottish parliament in recent weeks with opposition parties attacking the SNP over falling literacy and numeracy rates.

The First Minister visited Daniel Hale Williams with Chancellor Carmen Farina, the head of New York City Department of Education.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Education is one of the most important things we give to our children and young people. It is a tool for life – one that can help everyone aim high and be the best they can be.

“Scotland continues to attract attention for its innovation and improvement in learning and teaching. And we know that our schools are achieving success with record exam results and a record number of school-leavers in work, education or training.

“However, there is always room for improvement, particularly in improving standards of literacy and numeracy and in how our most disadvantaged young people are supported to achieve success at school and beyond.

“I said when I launched the Scottish Attainment Challenge that we would look at and learn from successful models in Scotland, the UK and overseas to gain as much evidence and knowledge as we can on how best to drive up standards in Scotland.

“Coming to Brooklyn today and finding out about how schools which face similar issues to those in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities have overcome their challenges will be vital as we move towards shaping a model that will work back home.”

Chancellor Farina said: “Our goal is to give every child an education that puts them on the path to college and meaningful careers – regardless of what neighbourhood they live in or obstacles they may face.

“So many educators, including Principal Davenport and her teachers at PS 307, are doing amazing work across the City to meet the unique needs of all our students.

“As a school system, we are committed to working collaboratively and sharing strong practices from teacher to teacher and school to school, and I am so pleased that we are now able to share some of the wonderful teaching and learning in our City with First Minister Sturgeon and the people of Scotland.”

Ms Sturgeon is in America until Thursday with further planned meetings with businesses, a hospital visit and a speech to the IMF all with the aim of improving links with Scotland.

One of the most anticipated events is Ms Sturgeon’s interview with comedian Jon Stewart on the Daily Show to be broadcast at around 4am UK time tomorrow.

At the weekend, the programme’s website listed her as a “comedian” before quickly rectifying the mistake.

The First Minister will be following in the footsteps of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown by appearing in the popular slot, although the former prime ministers were interviewed after leaving office.

On Tuesday the SNP leader will host a reception to kick off Glasgow School of Art’s fundraising appeal in the US before heading to Washington.

There she will address an audience at the World Bank, attend a meeting at the International Monetary Fund, visit the US Holocaust Museum and make a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations.

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