Fact vs. Fiction: Did the U.S. Drop from First to 24th in Education Since the Creation of the Department of Education?

Claim by Elon Musk: Since the Department of Education was created in 1979, the U.S. dropped from first to 24th place in global education rankings.

Reasoning: There is no single definitive ranking system that consistently measures global education quality. While some assessments, such as U.S. News, rank the U.S. first in certain categories, others, like WorldTop20, placed it at 31st in 2024. Historical data do not support the notion that the U.S. was ranked first in education globally in 1979. Studies from that time show U.S. students were already behind their peers in other developed nations. From 1971 to 2017, overall student achievement in the U.S. improved, particularly among minority groups. The Department of Education’s primary focus has been financial aid and data collection, and its direct impact on global rankings is unclear.

Fact or Fiction?
Fiction. There is no evidence supporting the claim that the U.S. dropped from first to 24th in education rankings since 1979. Both components of the claim are unfounded.