In the latest international exam, Program for International Student Assessment, American teen agers fell into the middle of the pack in science, mathematics, and reading. Randomly selected 15-year-old students from 60 countries competed in a well designed standard test.

Extrapolating, one in five U.S. teen-agers cannot accomplish low-level reading tasks. Six other countries improved their standing above the U.S.: Finland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Slovenia.

One in four cannot apply mathematics to such efforts as balancing a checkbook. Mathematics is the area in which this country slipped most, the test scores being nine points lower than the average for the 60 countries.

Performance in science has not appreciated measurably since the previous exam three years ago. Twelve other countries had better averages.

Most disturbing was the supremacy of China in all three areas of the exam. It was the first time children from the mainland participated. Yes, China hand-picked the students to take the test, but the improvements in Shanghai’s school system in the last several years will spread to more Chinese schools in the future.

The United States is falling behind in many areas and it is time to address the inadequacies in the K-12 systems in Michigan.