A riddle wrapped in irony:
The leading industrialized nations are aware that the U.S. reports that 50% of its high school graduates do not meet minimum proficiency in reading, writing, or math according to NAEP standards. Despite this, these nations consistently rank the U.S. as having the best foundational K-12 and higher education systems.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/best-countries-for-education
United States #1 in Education Rankings No Change in Rank from 2023
Per the U.S. News and World Report, “It’s also worthwhile to note that while the Best Countries study is certainly respectable, other studies use different methodologies or emphasize different criteria, which often leads to different results. For example, the Global Citizens for Human Rights’ annual study measures ten levels of education from early childhood enrollment rates to adult literacy.”
World Population Overview
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/education-rankings-by-country
Education Rankings by Country 2024: United States #1, United Kingdom #2, Germany #3, Canada #4, France #5, Switzerland #6, Japan #7, Australia #8, Sweden #9, Netherlands #10.
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The "best in the world" contradiction
NAEP results in the U.S. are dismal, and international tests such as PISA and TIMSS rank the U.S. embarrassing low among the industrialized nations.
So, with this NAEP, PISA, and TIMSS contradiction in mind, why do the other industrialized nations rank U.S. education as the best? Why do families around the world sacrifice to come to the U.S. for K-12 public and higher education?
The world's answer to the U.S. K-12 riddle
The answer: U.S. PUBLIC K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD, YES, BUT 50% (OR MORE) OF U.S. K-12 STUDENTS DO NOT FULLY PARTICIPATE.
That is, the destructive PISA, TIMSS, and NAEP results are NOT because the U.S. public K-12 education system lacks the power to teach at an exceptional level. After all, even within the same community, there can be a school that excels nationally despite another that is one of the nation’s worst NAEP performers. It’s the same system.
The U.S. K-12 public education system is highly successful in its foundational role for the U.S. higher education system—which produces the most Nobel Prize winners in the world, the best technologists, and on and on.
Furthermore, other industrialized nations may recognize that if the U.S. K-12 public education system were theoretically implemented in countries that currently outperform the U.S. on international K-12 tests, student outcomes in those nations might rise even higher—demonstrating the inherent strength of the U.S. system. Conversely, if those nations’ education models were applied in the United States, they might struggle to function or even collapse under the system’s immense demands.
Keep in mind that the U.S. K-12 education system operates on an unprecedented scale, spanning a vast geographic territory, embracing a richly diverse and non-monolithic culture, and serving students from every background—without selective filtering.
Caution!
Do not recklessly remake the U.S. K-12 system, one of the most resilient and inclusive education systems in the world. Do not hastily impose programs like No Child Left Behind, or irresponsibly add to the burdens of its dedicated teachers.
Instead, consider this:
The U.S. public K-12 education system is ALREADY BUILT TO EXCEL.
HOWEVER, FOR THE SYSTEM TO WORK FOR EVERY YOUNG PERSON, ONLY A TRUE INNOVATION SUCH AS THE HSE4METRICS SOCIAL MEDIA APP CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
The HSe4Metrics app MUST be implemented and tested.
In sum, the issue is NOT the public K-12 system.
Yes, 50% of all U.S. K-12 students fail to capitalize on the public education K-12 windfall.
Yes again, a societal innovation that prioritizes societal good can unlock the talents and potential of that 50%.
The U.S. public K-12 system as we know it today can work brilliantly for all of its students.
An innovation that successfully integrates the overlooked 50% has the potential to ignite the largest socioeconomic transformation of human capital the modern world has ever seen.