Where Did All the Scientists Go?
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Umm... an influencer.”
Sound familiar? Somewhere along the way, “scientist” and “engineer” fell off the list of dream jobs, replaced by content creators and social media stars. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — the world is changing. But still, it makes you wonder: what happened to our passion for science?
The problem runs deeper than shifting dreams. STEM education in the U.S. is riddled with unequal access, a lack of qualified teachers, and systemic gender and racial disparities.
And recently, these issues have drawn renewed attention across schools and policy circles.
Let’s take a look at the growing effort to close the STEM education gap in the United States.
How Did the Gap Get So Wide?
1. STEM Enrollment Doubled, But Gaps Persist
In one Southern Los Angeles school district (CUSD), the number of students pursuing STEM-related careers doubled over the last decade — from 24% to 52%.
At first glance, it sounds like great news.
But underneath this growth lies a stark reality: many students in underserved communities still don’t have access to proper STEM education.
High-performing STEM schools tend to be concentrated in urban or higher-income areas, while students in low-income or minority neighborhoods are often left behind.
2. Where Did All the Teachers Go?
Back in 1971, the U.S. had around 176,000 math and science teachers.
By 2020? Just 85,000.
Worse yet, teacher pay has fallen far behind other professions. The wage gap between teachers and similar college-educated workers jumped from 6.1% in 1996 to a staggering 23.5% in 2021.
When you can earn more in tech than in teaching it — who’s going to fill the science classrooms?
3. Girls in STEM: Still an Uphill Battle
Harbor Beach High School in Michigan was recently recognized by the College Board for increasing female representation in AP Computer Science.
Women made up 34% of students in AP CS Principles and 26% in AP CS A — higher than the national average.
Still, those numbers remain low. Many girls continue to hear, “You’re just not a math person,” and internalize that message.
The problem is fueled by a lack of female role models, implicit bias, and a failure to cultivate early confidence in science.
4. Latino Students: Degrees Without Opportunities
Latino college graduation rates have improved, but access to high-paying STEM jobs remains limited.
Especially for Latinas, who face both racial and gender barriers, there’s a persistent gap between education and opportunity.
Even with degrees in hand, they’re less likely to land the high-paying, high-growth roles they worked hard for.
Don’t Just Say “You Can Do It”—Make It Possible
The STEM gap isn’t just about test scores or curriculum. It’s about opportunity — who gets it, and who doesn’t.
Solving this will take more than better textbooks. We need policies that improve teacher pay, invest in underfunded schools, and support inclusive learning environments from the ground up.
Because when a kid asks, “Can I really be a scientist?”
The answer shouldn’t just be “Yes, you can.”
It should be: “Yes, and we’ll make sure you can.”
