In other words, for our low math scores to be considered a security threat I'm not worried about the average of math scores for all graduating kids. However, I would be concerned if we didn't have enough kids good at math to be as many future engineers, programmers, and accountants, etc. as we need.
When my nephew graduated from NY, having been home-schooled his entire life, TPTB couldn’t believe he scored so high. He kicked ass.
My experience is only as my time in school.
I took College Algebra, Trig, Pre Calc, Calc I II III, Diff Eq, & Linear Algebra.
100% white students. NE Florida area.
Then, there’s the application of Math in other classes.
Stoichiometry, Dynamics, Statics, Laminar flow models, Electromagnetics, etc.