I don't think it's the state of the schools. I think its more along the lines of elemntary and high school students just don't have a sufficient background to understand science. Science isn't easy and it isn't simple. On your other point. Science and the religious right both hold crystal reading, astrology and other such stuff in contempt, but for opposite reasons. Science thinks it's quakery, but some Christians believe those things really work, but are the product of Satanic powers. I've seen sermons where a fiery pastor condemns these things for being evil, but never condemns them for being false.
Of course, the lack of reading ability among US students contributes to the problem.