The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 results reveal a sharp decline in U.S. 15-year-olds' math performance compared to 2018 and previous years. American students scored below those in similar industrialized democracies and significantly lower than top-performing countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Estonia.
This underperformance in math is a continuing trend that predates the pandemic.
In contrast to the poor math scores, U.S. students performed above average in reading and science.
The declining math scores reflect broader issues within the American education system, with a persistent drop in math proficiency observed over time across different grade levels. The results reinforce concerns about the system's ability to adequately prepare students, particularly in mathematics.