I think one of the harder problems in education is judging how well students are doing. I can't speak for the US, but in the UK we have had something like 20+ years of continually improving pass rates and % getting top grades at GCSE (16 yr olds) and A level (18). There are two schools (sorry couldn't resist ) of thought on this, the exams are getting easier or the kids are doing better.

I am fairly firmly of the former opinion, I have done some teaching of 1st year chemistry university undergrads and there has clearly been a trend of students having less basic subject knowledge as well as an increased expectation that everything should be handed to them on a plate.

Personally I blame successive governments setting targets and publishing league tables that force schools to train people how to pass a test and not teach them the subject.