All testing does is measure whether a very narrow curriculum taught in a very specific way with a very specific text and test prep guide as guidance is being taught. Since so much is put on not only passing these tests but improving every year (a near mathematical impossibility) schools define their curriculum by what is being tested, not what constitutes a well-rounded education (backed by scientific studies into the importance of topics and areas of study not tested).

You know what generally gets better test scores out of kids? More time spent studying how to answer questions and rote memorization of test topics. All done studying that stuff? If you study it more maybe one kid does better and we get more funding.