A Mathematics Problem: How to Help Students Achieve Success in Mathematics Through College and Beyond

Resource Type:: Policy Brief

Resource Tags:: College and Career Readiness; International Assessment; Policy; Quantile; Student Growth

By Malbert Smith, Ph.D. and Jason Turner on February 18, 2012

When it comes to our students’ performance in mathematics, there is cause for concern. According to the results of the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), U.S. students ranked a dismal 25th out of 35 countries (OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 2009). A 2009 National Center for Education Statistics report that compared the performance ofU.S. 15-year-olds with their peers in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries stated that U.S. students ranked in the bottom quarter of participating countries in mathematics (National Center for Education Statistics, 2009).