HomeEducationU.S. Students Posted Dire...

U.S. Students Posted Dire Math Declines on an International Test

On the test, American fourth and eighth graders posted results similar to scores from 1995. It was a sign of notable stagnation, even as other countries saw improvements.

Happy diverse junior school children students gathered at teacher table looking at laptop computer using online software learning web education technology studying together at math class in classroom.

American students turned in grim results on the latest international test of math skills — adding to a large body of research showing significant academic declines since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The exam, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, known as TIMSS, was given last year to fourth and eighth graders from dozens of education systems across the globe. The results, released on Wednesday, found that since 2019, American fourth graders have declined 18 points in math, while eighth graders have declined 27 points.

In fourth grade, those declines were driven by the struggles of students at the bottom end of the achievement spectrum. While fourth graders in the 75th percentile and above did not decline since 2019, those in the 25th percentile and below declined significantly. In 16 other countries, fourth graders performed better in math in 2023 than in 2019.

Among American eighth graders, both high-performing and low-performing students lost ground in math.

Overall, American students’ performance in math was similar to their performance in 1995, when TIMSS was first given — a notable stagnation, given the energetic movement to improve American schools over the last three decades. That movement has pushed a flurry of bipartisan laws intended to enact tougher accountability standards for schools, more school choice for parents and more rigorous academic standards.

While some of those changes might have resulted in previous learning gains, much of the progress appears to have been erased, particularly for low-income students and others who struggle academically, said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the federal Department of Education.

“This is alarming,” Dr. Carr said. “These are sharp, steep declines.”

Experts are debating potential causes. The students who took the TIMSS exam were in the first and fifth grades when the pandemic disrupted education all around the world. Many children in the United States experienced longer-than-average periods of online schooling compared with their international peers.

Still, the pandemic is not the only cause. In the United States, academic declines — and widening gaps between stronger and weaker students — were apparent before the pandemic.

The United States differs from many of the other nations that participate in TIMSS in that it lacks national curriculum standards and has not aligned math instruction to the expectations of the international test.

Despite the disappointing results, the United States performed slightly above average in math compared with all of its international peers.

Matthias von Davier, a professor at Boston College and executive director of the center that conducts the TIMSS exam, said he would consider the overall, long-term results for the United States a story of “glass half full, glass half empty.”

He pointed out that larger, wealthier nations like the United States typically see slower academic achievement growth over time, compared with smaller or developing nations that make big, fast education investments relative to their population size.

The top-performing education systems on TIMSS in math included Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan; South Korea; Hong Kong; and Japan. Several European countries also significantly outperformed the United States, including Britain, Poland and Ireland.

American fourth graders performed similarly to those in Hungary, Portugal and Quebec.

The exam also tested science. In that subject, American students performed similarly in 2023 to how they had in 2019, though fourth graders’ scores had declined since 1995.

American efforts to improve education have tended to focus on basic reading and math skills, downplaying subjects like science and social studies.

And in both the science and math portions of TIMSS, boys performed better than girls, reopening a gender gap that had previously closed.

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Most Popular

More from Author

Let your brain “survive” in the ocean of knowledge

In this era of information explosion, knowledge floods in like a...

Music revolution: Global top-notch concerts

When music is not just an art form but a revolution,...

Dior Spring-Summer 2025: An epic about contemporary femininity

In a magical space where time seems to pause with the...

From the runway to the market – Southeast Asian fashion’s grand stage

At SEA Fashion Week 2025, fashion is not just a performance...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Read Now

Let your brain “survive” in the ocean of knowledge

In this era of information explosion, knowledge floods in like a rising tide, and not everyone has the stamina to swim through this vast ocean without growing weary. As the volume of knowledge continues to mount, the key is not merely to learn more, but to learn...

Music revolution: Global top-notch concerts

When music is not just an art form but a revolution, recent concerts around the world have proven this with an unmatched power, intensity, and passion. Each melody played, each blinding light on stage, is not just a performance by the artists, but a fusion of emotions,...

Dior Spring-Summer 2025: An epic about contemporary femininity

In a magical space where time seems to pause with the graceful flow of the dress hems, Dior Spring-Summer 2025 emerges like a majestic ode to feminine strength. With her timeless vision, Maria Grazia Chiuri masterfully blends the house’s treasured heritage with the spirit of the times,...

From the runway to the market – Southeast Asian fashion’s grand stage

At SEA Fashion Week 2025, fashion is not just a performance – it is a comprehensive strategy, where the runway becomes a commercial platform, and the spotlight illuminates an entire massive value chain behind the scenes. This is not a traditional fashion week, but a complex, multi-layered...

Tran Ngoc Yen leaving strong impressions in Vietnam’s junior modeling field with professional demeanors

At an age when many children are still shy in front of crowds, Tran Ngoc Yen has shown a different demeanor: confident, composed, and full of emotion on stage. Her selection to join Global Junior Fashion Week 2025 as a Global Ambassador is a testament to that...

Spanish literature and architecture: The engagement of shapes and words

Spain is not only known for its Moorish arches, terracotta roofs, and sun-drenched squares, but also as the birthplace of captivating literary works. There, form and language do not merely coexist – they intertwine, support, and reflect each other, like a perfect marriage between visual art and...

Golden silk on the silver screen: Fashion and the scriptless stories

Fashion in cinema is not just an outer garment – it is a silent yet powerful language. Through every stitch and seam, characters become more vivid, their pasts are hinted at, their personalities are etched, and even their inner conflicts are woven into each layer of fabric....

Restoring memories – When the old living environment is the material for novel creativity

There are memories like waves that never rest – always lapping gently in the unconscious, caressing and seeking a new path. They are fragments of time, traces from a world that once was, yet within each speck of that dust of memory lies the potential for miraculous...

Vietnam delicacies alluring international visitors

Vietnam is not only famous for its stunning natural landscapes but also for its culinary paradise that captivates visitors with iconic dishes. From the fragrant pho to the crispy banh mi, each dish carries its own cultural story and unique flavor. Many international travelers have fallen in...

Popcorn Brain Syndrome – When the brain “bursts” amid the digital era

Have you ever felt exhausted even though you haven’t done much? Your mind keeps jumping from one thought to another, yet nothing really sticks? You might be a victim of a modern-day phenomenon – Popcorn Brain. Like kernels that get so hot they burst, the modern brain...

The variation of time: Aristino’s “Continuing the Legend” on the runway of legacy

Transcending the tangible boundaries of clothing, Aristino’s collection “Continuing the Legend” is not merely a showcase of form and structure, but a powerful declaration of the intersection between Vietnamese cultural heritage and the spirit of contemporary innovation. Deeply inspired by the bamboo tree – a symbol of...

Declaration of beauty and international vision: Crystal Star 2025 officially initiating the series of strategic projects

Ho Chi Minh City, April 15, 2025 – In the luxurious, prestigious setting of Galleria Center – Ho Chi Minh City, Crystal Star Entertainment (CSE) officially launched its key beauty projects for 2025 with a press conference unveiling two international competitions: Miss & Mister Celebrity Vietnam 2025...