US Education Rankings: Global Performance Comparison

The United States is in a class by itself. It's a dominant economic and military power. It shapes world culture via its movie and music industries. Other countries often view it as an international leader due to the fact that the U.S. played a key role in founding international organizations such as the UN and NATO.

Unfortunately, US education compared to other countries shows significant lacks in the United States' education system. A close look at current education statistics makes it clear that progress is needed to ensure American students receive the quality academic training they need and deserve.

Average Literacy Score

In 2022, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessed education systems in over eighty OECD countries and non-OECD countries. The assessment, which was coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), measured literacy scores for 15-year-olds around the world and found that the United States ranks in ninth place globally. The nation's literacy score is 504, far above the OECD average of 476.

However, while the United States out-performed other developed countries in this all-important field, the PISA report shows that there is a significant lack of equity in the nation's public school system. The gap between scores in the ninetieth and tenth percentiles is nearly 300 points, higher than the score gaps of most of the other nations participating in the study. While 14% of students reached top performance levels, about one in five scored below proficiency, highlighting the need for more targeted instructional support and resources. Many students are still developing foundational literacy skills and would benefit from more individualized instruction and resources.

Average Mathematics Score

A good math and science education is a must for any nation that wants to keep up technologically. Unfortunately, The U.S. scores are below average in this field. PISA's international student assessment shows that while the average score is 472, the United States is at 465, scoring lower than many countries in Europe and several developed Asian countries.

The score gap in student performance shows a lack of equity in the nation's math education system, as only 7% of 15-year-old students were top performers in this field, while over one-third of students were low performers. The OECD average for low performers in math literacy is 31%, which means that the U.S.'s percentage of low performers isn't atypical. However, it is an alarming sign that the country, which is currently one of the top five most technologically advanced nations on earth, may not be able to retain its top ranking long-term unless drastic changes are made to the nation's education system.

Average Science Score

The good news is that the United States' average science score is 499, which is higher than the OECD average of 485. However, fifteen countries have higher average science scores than the United States. Additionally, countries that are already ranked as being more technologically advanced than the United States rank more highly than the US education system. Japan, for instance, comes in second place at 547. South Korea has an average science score of 528. The Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macau both outrank the United States (data for China is not available from the OECD).

Again, there is a huge gap in science achievement between the ninetieth and tenth percentiles. While the OECD average gap in this subject is 254, the United States has a score gap of 282 points. Only 11% of U.S. students are top performers in science literacy, while 22% are low performers.

Key Takeaways

• America's education system ranks above that of many countries in literacy, mathematics and science achievement. However, it's far lower than one would expect considering the nation's standing in the world.
• Other developed countries' education systems are outperforming that of the United States. While it's impossible to predict the future with 100% accuracy, it is safe to say that, if educational progress isn't made, the United States may one day have the worst educated workforce in the developed world. Increasingly smart machines demand higher levels of student performance, and the United States clearly isn't keeping up.
• There is a clear lack of equity in the nation's education system. Schools in poor neighborhoods have a harder time finding qualified teachers than schools in middle or upper-class locations. The lack of equity is further evidenced by the fact that eighth grade private school students scored an average of 20 points higher than public school students on the 2022 NAEP reading test. Furthermore, statistics show that private school student performance outranks public school system performance in all other subject areas.

What is the Solution?

There has been a lot of debate regarding how to raise average literacy, mathematics and science scores. The White House, Education Department, district administrators, educational experts, and teachers have all weighed in. However, the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for improving education throughout the United States. Multiple factors can affect student scores, including:

• Geographic location of a school district
• Availability of certified, experienced teachers
• A child's learning styles and intellectual abilities
• Availability of educational tools and equipment
• Home environment
• Parental involvement

The good news is that many school district administrators have found several effective ways to boost reading, math, and science scores. These include:

• Communicating with parents regarding low test scores, outlining what the school will do to help a student improve his or her average score, and explaining how parents can support the school system's efforts.
• Analyzing reading, math, and science test scores to find patterns that could indicate students need more review in certain topics. Such an analysis is also useful in helping schools identify students who need help to improve their grades.
• Monitoring student progress to identify areas where learners may need additional review. Some educators have also found that regular testing helps students become accustomed to exams so they aren't overly nervous when participating in a national assessment.

How Can Proximity Learning Help?

Proximity Learning is a leader in the distance education industry, with over fifteen years of experience helping learners of all ages and walks of life improve their literacy, math, and science skills. Our teachers are certified and accredited, and all classes are livestreamed to promote student engagement rather than emphasize rote memorization. We offer classes on your school's bell schedule and provide special education classes and accommodations to IEP and 504 students.

Researchers from Chicago State University recently found that learners who studied with certified teachers from Proximity Learning had higher mean test scores than other learners. Results ranged from an almost four-point difference in eighth grade science scores to a whopping 12-point difference in Algebra I scores for ninth grade students. Overall, when all subjects were analyzed for students from fourth to eleventh grade, researchers discovered that Proximity Learning students had aggregated mean test scores that were more than eleven points higher than other students.

Would you like to see American students beat the OECD average in core subjects? Are you eager to help your learners receive a quality education that will open doors of opportunity for them once they graduate? If so, contact us today to find out more about our class options and course materials, or to start the onboarding process.

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