As a child, I lived in Canada for five years during the early 1970s. Back then, the National Hockey League (NHL) was almost entirely Canadian, with 90.2%1 of the players hailing from Canada in 1974. Fast forward to today, and that number has dropped to 42.2%2. Naturally, this must mean there’s a crisis in Canadian hockey, eh? After all, hockey is a cornerstone of Canadian culture, and the drastic drop in Canadian representation in the NHL must signal the collapse of their system—at least, that’s what the numbers seem to imply.
I have often shared this story throughout my career to help explain the issues with focusing too narrowly on data like test scores when evaluating the American K-12 public education system. Much like the perception that Canadian hockey is faltering based on player percentages, this fascination with test scores misses the bigger picture. Ever since the 1983 release of A Nation At Risk, public narrative around education has often centered on supposed academic decline, with test scores being held up as the ultimate measure of success. The latest wave of education reform, built on accountability, leans heavily on these numbers, with many concluding that public schools are failing because scores haven’t improved significantly over the years.
But the real story, in both hockey and education, is far more complex. The decline in the percentage of Canadian players in the NHL isn’t because Canada’s hockey system is failing. Instead, it’s because the NHL has become more global. Back in 1974-75, players came from only seven countries1; today, players represent 18 nations2. In other words, the talent pool has expanded, and the competition has become tougher. If you’re a Canadian hoping to make it to the NHL today, you must be better than ever before. In fact, one could argue that the Canadian hockey system is producing higher-quality athletes now than at any point in history.
This same principle applies to our schools. Politicians, business leaders and the media frequently fixate on test scores because they seem like an easy, objective way to measure who’s “the best.” But as the American public education system has grown more inclusive, these scores have become less reflective of quality and more indicative of the broadening opportunities available to all students.
Much like the NHL opening its doors to athletes from around the world, our schools have expanded access to more students, many of whom historically were excluded from higher-level learning. This shift—this inclusion—is at the heart of why test scores alone can’t tell the full story. When more students are given the chance to take challenging courses and assessments, it’s natural to see more varied results. Students are pushing themselves in ways they didn’t in the past, and that’s something to celebrate, not criticize.
Historically, college entrance exams were a prime example of limited access. These tests were once limited to primarily a select group of white males attending elite private schools in the Northeast. Over time, the American K-12 public education system has radically transformed, becoming more inclusive by gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, language, and disability. Just as the NHL became more competitive by opening up to international players, our schools have grown stronger by opening up to all students.
This expansion of opportunity is what we should truly be celebrating. The American public education system has never been about simply producing the highest test scores—it’s about preparing every student for the future, no matter their background. Just like Canadian hockey players now face stiffer competition, our students are being challenged in ways they haven’t before. This isn’t a sign of decline; it’s a testament to our progress.
Test scores alone can’t capture the richness of this journey. As I’ve explored in previous columns, K-12 public education in America is about more than numbers; it’s about inclusivity, equity, and preparing students to thrive in an increasingly complex world. Our schools today are serving a more diverse population than ever before, and they are rising to the challenge to ensure all students receive a high quality education. The system is evolving, pushing students to achieve more in ways that matter beyond any single test score.
So, the next time we hear the narrative of failure based on declining numbers we need to pause and look deeper into the numbers. What we might find is not a story of decline, but one of growth, opportunity, and achievement. Just as Canadian hockey players now compete on a global stage, American students are taking on challenges in ways that reflect the true strength of our public education system. Let’s celebrate the amazing job being done by so many dedicated educators in the traditional American K-12 public school system.
1 QuantHockey, The Percentage of NHL Players by Nationality: 1974-75 Stats, New York, NY (XML Team Solutions) 2024.
2 QuantHockey, The Percentage of NHL Players by Nationality: 1974-75 Stats, New York, NY (XML Team Solutions) 2024.
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Dr. Wyman presents a thoughtful, wise, and sound argument as to the treasure and genius that is the American public school system. Indeed, it is not perfect or even always equal. However, in a special way, it provides every youngster with access, and a reasonable chance to be the best he/she can be. Furthermore, our economy, society, and overall quality of life are more prosperous and better off. The traditional public school is truly a public investment, and in alignment with the values that define our great Country, including freedom and opportunity. Our assessment of its strengths and possible refinements must certainly be broad and multifaceted.
Well stated, Dr. Valenzuela! We must endeavor to view the value of our traditional public schools using a multi-dimensional perspective, rather that focusing on a single measure. It is human nature to attempt to reduced complex systems down to a more understandable point of reference, but we must remember that does not provide the best view of the system and what it is producing.
Thank you for this refreshing perspective. We all need to share it with our legislators, our employees, and our communities.
Very true, Carolyn! Hopefully we can all start to do so immediately.