U.S. Ranks First in Global STEM Competitions

MCLEAN, Va. - Dec. 6, 2024 - PRLog -- In an annual index published by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) the United States topped the results this year for the first time since 2001, with perennial winner the People's Republic of China dropping to 2nd.

The CEE Index of Excellence in STEM Education analyzes the performance of students in each of the five major STEM Olympiads. The average rankings of students in each country are calculated and ranked for each Olympiad, with the average of those rankings determining the final country rank on the CEE Index.

Based on the combined outcomes of International Olympiads in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, and Informatics, the index shows:

* For the first time since 2001, Team USA claimed the first-place overall ranking in the CEE index, with first place showings in Mathematics and Informatics.
* The People's Republic of China, ranked second this year, breaking a first-place streak that lasted from 2015 to 2023.
* In its best showing since 1981, Poland claimed third place, with top ten finishes in each of the Olympiads entered.
* Rounding out the top five were perennially strong teams from Taiwan and Japan.  India, Singapore, Iran, and Vietnam scored sixth through ninth place rankings, with Israel and the United Kingdom tied for 10th.

Further analysis also sheds light on the trends in performance, with European countries generally being less competitive than in years past, and Asian countries rising to usually dominate the proceedings over the last few decades. The size of the country seems to matter less than the preparation their students receive. For example, Romania was able to place 13th with ¼ the population of Germany, who placed 28th. Indeed, eight of the countries ranking 10th or higher five years ago were again represented in 2024's top ten.

CEE fosters excellence and leadership among high school and university students in STEM fields. CEE is host to the premier biology competition for high school students in the United States, the USA Biolympiad (USABO). Since CEE began administering the USABO, every member of USA Biolympiad Team has medaled at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). All four members of the USA Biolympiad Team in the years 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2024 were awarded gold medals at the IBO. The data shows that CEE's involvement in the USABO has resulted in superior results in the International Olympiad relative to U.S. competitors in other International Academic Olympiads. Since 2004, U.S. rankings at the IBO have averaged three places better than U.S. competitors at other Olympiads. Since 2004, U.S. rankings at the IBO have averaged three places better than U.S. competitors at other Olympiads.

The index and methodology appear at https://www.cee.org/newsevents/press-releases/us-ranks-fi...