In light of the commonly shared view that the United States is the global superpower, one may assume that the academic performance of the nation’s students exceeds all others. However, based on international study, the United States falls sharply behind many industrialized countries, primarily countries within Asia, in mathematics performance. This review explores and compares the curricular, instructional, cultural, and stereotypical influences which reportedly impact mathematical proficiency among American and Asian students. The review concludes with a summarization of critical findings, as well as possible implications for future research.