Ask most parents to rate the American education system compared to the rest of the industrialized world, and they'd no doubt tell you it is second to none. According to the 2004 edition of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s Education at a Glance report, however, this basic assumption of American educational excellence has grown shaky. (To read our take on last year's results, see "Facing Facts.") The U.S. does still have the world's highest college completion rate among those aged 44+. But among ages 25-44, America now ranks 10th - not because our numbers are decreasing, but because others are catching up. Perhaps more troubling, the U.S. ranks just slightly above average in reading performance, below average in math achievement, and below average in high school completion rates, compared to the rest of the industrialized world. This despite spending more per student on all levels of education. Barry McGraw, OECD director of education, observes that "The best in the U.S. is as good as the best in the world. What drags you down is the worst performers."
Education at a Glance 2004, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
"Report: U.S. slips in education ratings," by Ben Feller, Associated Press, September 14, 2004
"U.S. teens have big hopes, average skills," by Greg Toppo, USA Today, September 14, 2004