More than half a million students around the world took a standardized test in 2012. The results for Americans were largely unchanged. Our education is expensive and unequal, and we’re not that good at math.

+ But maybe being bad at math is good news. Countries with higher math scores have unhappier kids.

+ Are we testing for the wrong things? When was the last time your kid’s spatial skills were assessed?

+ Want smarter kids? Sign them up for music lessons.