American high school students fall behind other countries.

While U.S. students in low grades are faring about average or better in mathematics and science compared with those in other countries, high schoolers are outperformed in both subjects, according to a new federal report. The Condition of Education 2006 report by the National Center for Education Statistics painted a mixed picture after analyzing tests administered internationally in reading, science and math.

Three different tests were administered internationally for students, each targeting different age groups and subjects.

The results are important for political and business leaders but are of little meaning to district administrators, says Bruce Hunter, associate executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. "Nobody quite knows what goes into [the tests], and so nobody knows what to make of it," he says.

The tests' focus also is somewhat at odds with U.S. curricula, he says. The international tests probe a few academic skills in-depth, he says. "Our curriculum promotes broad coverage, so kids get a wider exposure in math, but it's not as deep," Hunter says.

The results could ultimately influence what's taught in the U.S., he says, as policymakers deepen the curricula. And that means districts may be asked to spend more time on a narrow range of content areas in a subject, such as Algebra, he says.

"I think it already has had an effect," he says. "I think that the curriculum has changed over the last 15 years, narrowing and going more in depth, and that's reflected in our standards."

Among the Findings:

* U.S. students performed relatively well in reading literacy compared with international peers.

* U.S. fourth graders were in the middle of the pack among countries tested in math. Eighth graders between 1995 and 2003 boosted their international standing.

* As they did in math, eighth graders in science improved their relative standing internationally between 1995 and 2003. Fourth graders were above the international average, but showed no improvement.

* But U.S. 15-year-olds performed worse in math, on average, than many of their international peers on a test focusing on students' ability to apply math skills to everyday situations. They also performed worse on a test of real-word application of science knowledge and skills.