Why do american high schools teach advanced calculus and complex numbers, but still manage to be behind countries like germany in PISA or similar tests?
A big part of it is probably that the US school system may not be anywhere near as standardized as you may think. Even with a single state, school quality can vary dramatically, especially as they tend to be funded largely at the local level – so poor areas have less funding for schools than rich…
The Short Answer
A big part of it is probably that the US school system may not be anywhere near as standardized as you may think. Even with a single state, school quality can vary dramatically, especially as they tend to be funded largely at the local level – so poor areas have less funding for schools than richer areas. Performance also varies a lot by state as well. I remember reading that if Massachusetts test scores were considered alone, they would rank very highly internationally. So you could be seeing the curriculum and results of students who are probably more advanced than average even in a high achieving state, and not realize that it's not necessarily the norm. _URL_0_
Analysis
Key Concepts: State, probably, school
This explanation focuses on state, probably, school and spans 117 words across 6 sentences. At 63% above the average Society explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “A big part of it is probably that the US school system may not be anywhere near as standardized as you may think.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.
How This Compares in Society
Ranked #94 of 500 Society questions by answer depth (top 20%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why american high schools teach advanced calculus and complex numbers, but still manage to be behind countries like germany in pisa or similar tests?
A big part of it is probably that the US school system may not be anywhere near as standardized as you may think. Even with a single state, school quality can vary dramatically, especially as they tend to be funded largely at the local level – so…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Society questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 117 words, ranked #94 of 500 Society questions by depth. The key concepts covered are state, probably, school.
What approach does this answer take to explain american high schools teach advanced calculus and complex nu?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 117 words. It is categorized under Society and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.