Research finds that Virginia is among the states that are performing best in educating students in math and science.
According to PublicSchoolReview.com, which provides robust data analysis of public schools across the country, high schools in Virginia achieve an average science proficiency of 59% (2025-26). This figure significantly exceeds the national science proficiency average of 43%.
Public School Review also found that public high schools in Virginia achieve an average math proficiency of 68% (2025-26). Meanwhile, the national average math proficiency is 41% (2025-26).
The commonwealth has established a number of lab schools designed to stimulate the development of innovative education programs for Virginia students from preschool through grade 12. In partnership with local employers and community organizations, their academic programs focus on expanding opportunities for students with exposure to workplaces. Lab schools offer unique and focused opportunities to help students understand with greater clarity the career pathways for life after high school graduation.
This is encouraging news at a time when proficiency in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) is critical not only for Virginia’s success, but for the future of the country as a whole.
For decades, the United States has been a global leader in research and technology. In recent years, American leadership in STEM fields has fallen behind China. In fact, in the recently released annual CEE Index of Excellence in STEM Education published by the Center for Excellence in Education, the United States ranked No. 2 overall behind China, which demonstrates the need to work harder to assure global leadership in academic competitions.
The CEE Index is a measure of the effectiveness of educational preparation for the highest levels of academic competition and assesses performance in each of five STEM-related Olympiad competitions (biology, chemistry, mathematics, informatics and physics). The results are analyzed to generate averages and rankings by participating country, and to generate overall Olympiad performance by country.
Additionally, a 2024 report by the National Science Foundation found that while the United States produces world-class innovators, it now ranks behind several other nations in math and science proficiency among high school students. Meanwhile, millions of American jobs in manufacturing, health care, logistics and clean energy increasingly require STEM skills that the U.S. education system is not delivering adequately.
STEM education is of critical importance in our country. Currently, STEM occupations account for about 7% of the jobs in the United States, and that figure is surely going to rise. These jobs play an important part in the country’s ability to remain competitive in the global marketplace in fields such as medical science, engineering, fintech, information security and more. Notably, among the U.S. Labor Department prediction of the 10 fastest growing occupations, nearly all of them are STEM careers.
This is why programs such as CEE’s Research Science Institute (RSI), a six-week session of academic studies and hands-on mentoring experience for 100 top high students at MIT each summer, are so vital to our nation’s success. RSI alumni are a fantastic source of future talent for America’s top companies.
If the United States is to be successful in global innovation, it must ensure that our students have access to rigorous, inspiring STEM learning. The next generation of scientists and engineers is already in our classrooms. The question is whether they will have the tools and opportunities to thrive.
Joann P. DiGennaro of McLean is president of the Center for Excellence in Education, which she co-founded with the late Adm. H.G. Rickover. The nonprofit nurtures careers of excellence and leadership in STEM for academically talented high school and college students.
