Final answer:
U.S. students fell in PISA rankings from fifteenth to twenty-fifth for science and math, with academic achievement remaining stagnant despite increased education spending. Social inequities contribute to performance differences, and a significant education gap exists between racial and social groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding U.S. Students' Performance in Science and Math
The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed in 2010 that U.S. students had dropped in their global rankings for science and math proficiency, from fifteenth to twenty-fifth. Despite increased spending in education, standardized test scores such as the SAT have shown that academic achievement has stagnated. Social factors account for 20 percent of performance differences, with inequitable distribution of resources cited as a contributing element.
These educational challenges are evident in international comparisons, with PISA 2018 results indicating that U.S. student performance has remained stagnant in mathematics and science, although there was an improvement in reading. Conversely, countries like Shanghai and Singapore have a high proportion of 'resilient students' who outperform expectations considering their social background.
Higher college participation rates in the U.S. do not correlate with the completion rates, suggesting inefficiencies within the educational system. The education gap is highlighted by the disparities in achievement between different racial and social groups, emphasizing the need for education reform focused on equity and support of underperforming student populations.