Indian-origin Republican leader and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has intensified criticism of the United States’ public education system, pointing to new federal data showing that 78% of 12th-grade students are not proficient in mathematics. Sharing findings from the US Department of Labour based on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Ramaswamy argued that the numbers reflect a deepening academic crisis and that states must take the lead in reversing the decline.
The 2024 NAEP results show that only 22% of high-school seniors met proficiency standards in maths — the lowest level since assessments began in 2005. Similar declines are visible across subjects, with performance drops in science, reading, and mathematics between 2019 and 2024. Analysts note a broader erosion in foundational competencies, as fewer students are achieving even the “NAEP Basic” benchmark. For reading, proficiency has fallen to 35%, down from 40% in 1992. The testing covered more than 66,000 students across different grades earlier this year.
Ramaswamy's warnings build on his earlier claim that American students lag significantly behind their international peers. Last month, he argued that the average Chinese student is “four years ahead” of the average American, pointing to chronic weaknesses in K–12 education. His messaging continues to be coloured by earlier controversies, including a remark during the H-1B debate last Christmas in which he characterised Americans as “lazy”, a comment that still draws criticism and shapes reactions to his education stance.
Writers and commentators have defended his focus on academic decline, with Tunku Varadarajan describing the situation as symptomatic of “third-world educational standards” and crediting Ramaswamy for highlighting uncomfortable truths. Others, however, accuse him of using the data to disparage the country he seeks to govern, leading to a polarised response across social media.
The Department of Labour also described the latest results as evidence of a long-running failure of the federal education system, noting that sustained underperformance cannot be ignored. Education experts warn that the downward trend predates the pandemic but was worsened by prolonged school disruptions, learning loss, and inconsistent recovery efforts.
Ramaswamy, now campaigning for governor of Ohio with endorsements from both Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump, has called for state-led reforms aimed at restoring rigour, accountability, and performance in public schools. His comments align with a broader political debate over classroom standards, pandemic learning loss, and America’s global competitiveness in science and technology.
As the discussion continues, the NAEP data have amplified concerns that the country’s educational standing is slipping at a critical moment, placing renewed pressure on policymakers who must now confront what appears to be a sustained and systemic crisis.
