A new post by the US Department of Labor (DOL) has drawn nationwide attention after it revealed how badly American high school seniors are performing in basic math and reading. The department said less than half of 12th graders are proficient in these subjects, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has long warned about America’s declining math skills, reacted to the post, calling it a “hard truth.” The Indian-origin politician often talks about how around 75% of American 8th graders aren’t proficient in math, noting that the problem continues into high school.
Vivek Ramaswamy says ‘states must fix this’
“This is the hard truth & now it’s up to the states to fix it,” Ramaswamy wrote on X, alongside the DOL graph. In a recent post, the DOL said the federal education system has failed students for years. It added that under President Trump, the government is working to eliminate this “failed bureaucracy” and give more control to the states, making students’ learning the top priority.
“Less than HALF of high school seniors are proficient in math and reading. This is unacceptable. By continuing the status quo of federal education bureaucracy, we’re letting our students down. Under POTUS leadership we’re eliminating this failed bureaucracy and streamlining education and workforce development programs under our department. This brings education closer to the states and ensures our students—and their success—are the top priority!”
This is not the first time Ramaswamy has criticised the country’s education system. In October, he reacted to China’s completion of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s tallest, sparking discussions about how the US once completed ambitious projects and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders. At the time he wrote that “the average student in China is four years ahead of the average US student. It’s time to get serious about fixing K-12 education.”
This is the hard truth & now it’s up to the states to fix it. https://t.co/AKk9gq5XsC
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 24, 2025
What does the graph suggest?
The fresh data is based on the NAEP, often called the “Nation’s Report Card.”
The results show a dramatic decline:
12th Grade Math
- Only 22% of seniors are proficient in math.
- 78% are not proficient.
- The 2024 average math score is the lowest since 2005.
Trend data shows that over the years, students have increasingly fallen below “NAEP Basic” levels, and scores have dropped across almost every category.
12th Grade Reading
- Only 35% of seniors are proficient in reading.
- 65% are not proficient.
- The 2024 average reading score is lower than every previous assessment on record, including the first one in 1992. The reading trend also shows more students standing below the basic level as years go by.
‘America is falling behind’
Ramaswamy, who is running for governor of Ohio next year with strong support from President Donald Trump, has long expressed concerns about America losing its competitive edge. He often brings up America’s math decline while discussing issues like H-1B visas. He believes that instead of blaming immigrants for job competition, the US should focus on fixing its own basic education system.
Ramaswamy, a billionaire entrepreneur turned political figure, has made America’s declining education a central issue in his politics, often linking poor math and reading performance to economic and cultural challenges. The Harvard and Yale graduate, founded Roivant Sciences and Strive Asset Management before entering politics, running in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries and advocating for strict education reforms, limiting federal agencies, and conservative social policies. After ending his presidential bid, he filed to run for Ohio governor in 2026.
