No, it doesn't mean the Department of Education failed, although like all human institutions, it is far from perfect. It means that a massive number of Americans are too stupid to know they're stupid, and in their stupidity, they - like the legions of underperforming middle school students - refuse to learn, indeed, are often proud of their refusal to learn.
(If we hold institutions to perfect standards, why didn't Trump build the wall that would have kept illegal immigrants out? And why didn't Mexico pay for it? Malignant Messiah is such a gifted scam artist, and you are his mark. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46748492 )