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Mathematics education in the United States

A student solves some math problems with a graphing calculator (2010)
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Mathematics education in the United States varies considerably from one state to the next, and even within a single state. However, with the adoption of the Common Core Standards in most states and the District of Columbia beginning in 2010, mathematics content across the country has moved into closer agreement for each grade level. The SAT, a standardized university entrance exam, has been reformed to better reflect the contents of the Common Core.[1] However, many students take alternatives to the traditional pathways, including accelerated tracks. As of 2023, twenty-seven states require students to pass three math courses before graduation from high school (grades 9 to 12, for students typically aged 14 to 18), while seventeen states and the District of Columbia require four.[2] A typical sequence of secondary-school (grades 6 to 12) courses in mathematics reads: Pre-Algebra (7th or 8th grade), Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-calculus, and Calculus or Statistics. However, some students enroll in integrated programs[3] while many complete high school without passing Calculus or Statistics.[4][5] At the other end, counselors at competitive public or private high schools usually encourage talented and ambitious students to take Calculus regardless of future plans in order to increase their chances of getting admitted to a prestigious university[6] and their parents enroll them in enrichment programs in mathematics.[7]

Secondary-school algebra proves to be the turning point of difficulty many students struggle to surmount,[8][9][10][11] and as such, many students are ill-prepared for collegiate programs in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),[10][11][12] or future high-skilled careers.[13][14] According to a 1997 report by the U.S. Department of Education, passing rigorous high-school mathematics courses predicts successful completion of university programs regardless of major or family income.[15][16] Meanwhile, the number of eighth-graders enrolled in Algebra I has fallen between the early 2010s and early 2020s.[17] Across the United States, there is a shortage of qualified mathematics instructors.[18][19] Despite their best intentions, parents may transmit their mathematical anxiety to their children, who may also have school teachers who fear mathematics,[20][21] and they overestimate their children's mathematical proficiency.[22] About one in five American adults are functionally innumerate.[18] While an overwhelming majority agree that mathematics is important, many, especially the young, are not confident of their own mathematical ability.[18][23] On the other hand, high-performing schools may offer their students accelerated tracks (including the possibility of taking collegiate courses after calculus)[24] and nourish them for mathematics competitions.[25][26] At the tertiary level, student interest in STEM has grown considerably.[27] However, many students find themselves having to take remedial courses for high-school mathematics[28][29] and many drop out of STEM programs due to deficient mathematical skills.[12][7]

Compared to other developed countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average level of mathematical literacy of American students is mediocre.[8][30][31][32][33] As in many other countries, math scores dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic.[34] However, Asian- and European-American students are above the OECD average.[35]

  1. ^ Lewin, Tamar (March 5, 2014). "A New SAT Aims to Realign With Schoolwork". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014. He said he also wanted to make the test reflect more closely what students did in high school and, perhaps most important, rein in the intense coaching and tutoring on how to take the test that often gave affluent students an advantage.
  2. ^ Schwartz, Sarah (January 17, 2023). "Do Students Need Four Years of High School Math?". Education Week. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
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  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :67 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Schwartz, Sarah (June 22, 2021). "Algebra 1 Is a Turning Point. Here's How to Help Incoming Students". Education Week. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :56 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cavanagh, Sean (June 7, 2007). "What Kind of Math Matters?". Education Week. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :31 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ U.S. Department of Education. "Mathematics Equals Opportunity" (PDF).
  16. ^ Pickover, Clifford A. (2009). The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics. New York: Sterling. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-4027-5796-9.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference :45 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ a b c The Editorial Board (December 7, 2013). "Who Says Math Has to be Boring?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Sparks, Sarah D. (September 7, 2022). "What School Staffing Shortages Look Like Now". Education Week. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Sparks, Sarah D. (May 16, 2011). "Researchers probe causes of math anxiety". Education Week. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  21. ^ Hoffman, Jan (August 24, 2015). "Square Root of Kids' Math Anxiety: Their Parents' Help". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference :24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ "In a New Survey, Americans say, "We're Not Good At Math"". Change the Equation. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
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  30. ^ Anderson, Nick (September 3, 2015). "SAT scores at lowest level in 10 years, fueling worries about high schools". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference :23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ Hobbs, Tawnell D. (September 24, 2019). "SAT Scores Fall as More Students Take the Test". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  34. ^ Cite error: The named reference :25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ^ Cite error: The named reference :03 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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