US High School Students Struggle as Math and Reading Scores Plummet

The latest results from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reveal a troubling trend in U.S. high school education. Scores in reading and mathematics for 12th graders have reached their lowest levels in over two decades. This decline, which has persisted for more than ten years, has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released on March 12, 2024.

The assessments, marking the first comprehensive evaluations since the pandemic, also indicated that eighth-grade students have significantly regressed in science skills. These findings underscore a broader downward trajectory across multiple grade levels and subjects that educators have previously noted.

Matthew Soldner, the acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Scores for our lowest-performing students are at historic lows. These results should galvanize all of us to take concerted and focused action to accelerate student learning.”

While the pandemic’s impact on education has been significant, experts caution that the decline in scores cannot be solely attributed to COVID-19 or the subsequent school closures. Factors such as increased screen time, shortened attention spans, and a decline in reading longer texts both inside and outside the classroom have also contributed to this downturn.

Shifts in Teaching Methods Contribute to Decline

The drop in reading scores corresponds with changes in how English and language arts are taught in schools. Carol Jago, associate director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA, noted that the focus has shifted towards shorter texts and excerpts. In her experience as a high school English teacher two decades ago, students typically read around 20 books a year. Today, some classes assign as few as three books annually.

“To be a good reader, you have to have the stamina to stay on the page, even when the going gets tough,” Jago explained. “You have to build those muscles, and we’re not building those muscles in kids.”

The data shows a stark reality: in reading, the average score in 2024 was the lowest since the assessment began in 1992. Alarmingly, thirty-two percent of high school seniors scored below the “basic” level, indicating an inability to find details in texts to aid comprehension. In mathematics, the average score was the lowest since 2005, with 45% of seniors failing to reach even the basic achievement level, the highest percentage since that year.

Widening Achievement Gaps and Gender Disparities

The NAEP results also reveal that the achievement gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students has reached unprecedented levels among eighth-grade science students. This gap has further widened in 12th grade mathematics, underscoring growing inequality within the American education system.

Additionally, a concerning gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects has re-emerged. In 2019, boys and girls performed similarly on the NAEP science assessment, but by 2024, girls experienced a steeper decline in scores. This trend reflects a regression in progress made to engage girls in these fields following pandemic-related school disruptions.

Christine Cunningham, senior vice president of STEM learning at the Museum of Science in Boston, highlighted the importance of hands-on learning experiences, which were significantly hampered during the pandemic. “We don’t know exactly what the cause of it is, but it would be incomplete to assume that if we hadn’t had COVID, the score would not have gone down,” Cunningham stated.

With fewer students demonstrating basic proficiency in mathematics and reading, the implications for their future are concerning. Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, remarked, “These students are taking their next steps in life with fewer skills and less knowledge in core academics than their predecessors a decade ago.”

Education Secretary Linda McMahon responded to the findings by emphasizing the need for a shift in education funding. “Despite spending billions annually on numerous K-12 programs, the achievement gap is widening, and more high school seniors are performing below the basic benchmark in math and reading than ever before,” she said.

The NAEP assessments reflect tests administered between January and March 2024 and highlight a critical moment for educators and policymakers to reevaluate strategies aimed at improving student outcomes across the United States.