How can the U.S. turn around our education system and what should the focus be?

The focus can be as simple as the core subjects (Math, English...) or take it where ever you want. Art? Music? Physical Education? Job Skills? Tech Skills? Bow Staff Skills?

The Federal govn't needs to get out of the education business. The NEA should be disbanded. True 'choice' should exist for all families with kids.

why you always done think they something wrong with the exucation system?
Take all of the huge salaries of Pro Sports Athelets and give them to teachers. Focus should be on the basics but also common sense and life skills! Compassion, tolerance & respect as well as how to balance a checkbook and what credit cards REALLY cost! Unfortunately rude, ignorant parents are breeding like crazy and aren't teaching their children these life skills, so we NEED to
Try replacing the education budget with the military budget for 10 years and pay teachers more than entertainers. That would be the simple answer or at least pay them according to the quality of their students marks.Core subjects should include world history, not just U.S. history, math, geography, job skills, life skills, social sciences and first aid including CPR as well as computer training.
If studes correctly indicate and just judgeing by the appalling lack of language skills demonsrated on this site, fundamental english, reading, writing, and I would suspect math are grossly unattended.
I place the burden on administrations and gist to having school's
venue be altruistic and too "socially" oriented. I choose not to enter the debate but certainly, the lack of emphasis on those mentioned fundamentals is erroding the collective intellectual level here in the US.
I am too far away from it now but High School should no longer be primarily a sping board to the University although the curriculum should remain for that lofty ideal, but as you suggest, Job Skills via VoTech would get my nod at needing more, sustained, and develped curriculi.
K -BS in Communications 1955-1976...college on the 10 year plan.
Focus on teacher and school performance via measurable results. All successful enterprises that anyone can think of (great companies, great sports teams etc.) follow this approach. We must measure and reward successful behaviors.