Claims of U.S. education ranking lack clear evidence

Following President Donald Trump's recent order to close the Department of Education, a claim surfaced online stating that the U.S. education system dropped from first to 24th place globally since the department was created in 1979. This claim gained traction, particularly among prominent figures like Elon Musk. The accuracy of the claim has been questioned. Different organizations report varying educational rankings for the U.S., and no comprehensive assessment backs the assertion that the U.S. currently ranks 24th. For instance, U.S. News ranked the U.S. as first in a 2024 report based on surveys of global citizens. In contrast, a different report found the U.S. at 31st. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the U.S. ranked 20th out of 41 nations in overall education in 2024. Past assessments from the Programme for International Student Assessment have shown mixed results for the U.S. in subjects like mathematics and science. Historical data from 1979 does not support the claim that the U.S. held the top rank in education globally. International rankings were not as developed then, and reports show that U.S. students were often lagging behind their peers in other countries during that period. However, an analysis indicated that student achievement in the U.S. generally improved from 1971 to 2017. The impact of the Department of Education on education quality remains unclear. Initially created for data collection and federal aid distribution, its role in influencing educational outcomes is still debated. Overall, no evidence substantiates the claim that the U.S. has fallen from first to 24th since 1979. The current educational standing of the U.S. is varied and lacks a definitive source for confirmation.