[GeorgefromGeorgia]

They may be doing something wrong with immersion. I lived in Germany for 4 years. The Germans have free German lessons for all (Americans included). It is total immersion. There are students from a variety of countries with none speaking the same language. The success rate is very high. Also, I know Americans that put their kids (kindergarten, first grade) in the German instead of DoD School, and they were speaking German like natives by the end of the year.

[livius]

The problem is that the US schools are not doing immersion.

As you point out, the success rate is very high - mainly because it's really the only way to learn any language well.