Despite repeated claims made by the corporate education privatization movement, according to a new study by the National Center for Education Statistics, public schools in the US stack up very well compared to their intenrational "competition"
The U.S. States in a Global Context report presents results from the 2011 NAEP-TIMSS Linking Study in mathematics and science at grade 8 for 52 states (includes the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense schools) and 47 education systems (38 countries and 9 subnational education systems).
Results are reported as average scores on the TIMSS scales (0–1,000 with an average of 500) and percentages of students scoring at or above the TIMSS international benchmarks: Advanced (625), High (550), Intermediate (475), and Low (400). Three linking methods¯statistical moderation, statistical projection, and calibration¯were applied to predict TIMSS results for 43 states that had participated only in NAEP. The three linking methods produced similar results.
Mathematics
Compared to the TIMSS average, 36 states scored higher, 10 states scored comparably, and 6 states scored lower. Massachusetts scored higher than 42 education systems. Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore scored higher than all 52 U.S. states.
Science
Compared to the TIMSS average, 47 states scored higher, 2 states scored comparably, and 3 states scored lower. Massachusetts and Vermont scored higher than 43 education systems. Singapore scored higher than all 52 U.S. states.
Here's how the states stacked up
The eagled-eyed among you will notice that the poorest performing states are predominantly "right-to-work" states such as MS and AL. The vast majority of states, including Ohio, exceed their average TIMSS. There is no crisis other than in the minds of profiteers looking to manufacture one.