A Decade of Decline: Why Student Math and Reading Scores Haven't Recovered Since Before COVID

A Decade of Decline: Why Student Math and Reading Scores Haven't Recovered Since Before COVID

It is a sobering reality for the U.S. education system. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called "The Nation's Report Card," recently confirmed that student achievement has reached historic lows. For 13-year-olds, the drop in math—a 9-point decline between 2020 and 2023—is the largest ever recorded in the assessment’s 50-year history. Key Findings from the 2022-2023 Results: 13-Year-Olds (Math): Average scores fell to levels last seen in 1990. The decline was most severe among the lowest-performing students, whose scores dipped to levels not seen since the 1970s. High School Seniors (Reading): Scores for 12th graders hit their lowest point since the test began in 1992. Only about 22% of seniors are now considered proficient in math. Long-term Decline: While the pandemic accelerated these drops, experts note that scores in math and reading had actually been sliding since around 2012 to 2015. Widening Gaps: The achievement gap between high- and low-performing students has widened significantly, as those who were already struggling lost the most ground. Contributing Factors:Education officials and researchers at NCES and organizations like the Brookings Institution point to several factors beyond just school closures: Pandemic Disruptions: Remote learning and high absenteeism significantly hindered skill accumulation. Behavioral Shifts: A marked decrease in reading for fun among 13-year-olds and an increase in smartphone/screen time. Course Enrollment: There has been a notable drop in 13-year-olds enrolling in Algebra, falling from 34% in 2012 to 24% in 2023.