A new federal report shows that U.S. high school seniors are performing at their weakest levels in reading and math in more than 30 years. According to a new report from the National Center for Education Statistics, which released its findings Tuesday in what it calls the Nation’s Report Card, students across the country are increasingly struggling to meet proficiency standards in science, math and reading.
The report, published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), found that average scores for 12th graders in both subjects fell three points between 2019 and 2022, marking the steepest decline since the assessments began in 1992. The 2022 results mark the first NAEP assessments administered since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person learning nationwide. The exams, given every two years since 1969, provide one of the most consistent long-term snapshots of student performance in the U.S.
Pre-pandemic results already showed limited progress. In 2018, eighth graders saw no gains in math and only a one-point increase in reading, with an average score of 267 out of 500. The pandemic-era data confirms that many students continued to struggle in the aftermath of remote instruction.
The center evaluated approximately 23,000 eighth graders in science,19,300 12th graders in mathematics and 24,300 12th graders in reading from January to March 2024. Upon assessing eighth graders in science and 12th graders in mathematics and reading, the students’ average scores dropped in each subject between 2019 and 2024.
The report also highlighted setbacks in science. Among eighth graders, average scores dropped four points since 2019. Nearly one-third of students tested scored below the “basic” benchmark—the lowest share since 2005—while 45% of 12th graders and 38% of eighth graders were also below basic levels, suggesting many are struggling to grasp even foundational science concepts.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the findings as “bleak” and noted that despite billions spent on K-12 programs each year, achievement gaps continue to widen and said that “more high school seniors are now performing below the basic benchmark in math and reading than ever before.” McMahon also argued during a visit to Detroit on Monday that more authority over education should be shifted to state governments, and underscored the urgency of reversing the decline: “If America is to remain competitive in the world, students must be able to read proficiently, think critically, and graduate ready to tackle complex challenges,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said in a post on X about McMahon’s visit to Michigan that restoring control to states would allow parents and communities to better equip children with the skills needed for future success.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals, meanwhile, urged caution in interpreting the results, emphasizing that test scores represent only one measure of student achievement. The group said in a statement on X: “Students need more mental health supports, educators need resources, and schools need safe environments to thrive.”
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