American students continue to face challenges in reading and math, according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, also known as the nation’s report card. The findings highlight widening gaps between high- and low-performing students and emphasize the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.
Key Findings from the Report
The 2024 NAEP exam was administered to fourth- and eighth-grade students nationwide, measuring performance in reading and math. The results reveal troubling trends in education recovery.
1. Reading Scores Decline Across the Board
- Eighth grade reading scores dropped 2 points compared to 2022 and are now 8 points lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
- One-third of eighth-grade students scored below basic in reading, the highest percentage ever recorded by the assessment.
- Fourth grade reading scores also fell by 2 points and remain 5 points below 2019 levels.
Students scoring below basic lack key comprehension skills, such as the ability to make simple inferences or understand word meanings in context.
“The news is not good,” said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). “We are not seeing the progress we need to regain the ground our students lost during the pandemic.”
2. Mixed Results in Math Performance
- Fourth grade math scores showed a 2-point improvement, but they are still 3 points lower than 2019 averages.
- Eighth grade math scores remained unchanged from 2022, reflecting no progress in the recovery of learning losses.
- The performance gap is stark: Top-performing students saw gains, while lower-performing students continued to fall behind.
In eighth grade math, the top 10% of students improved by 3 points, but the bottom 10% experienced a 6-point decline.
“We are deeply concerned about our low-performing students,” said Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board. “They need our urgent attention and best effort.”
Key Challenges Contributing to the Decline
1. Chronic Absenteeism
The report found a strong link between poor academic performance and high rates of absenteeism. Students who frequently miss school are among the lowest performers in reading and math.
“The data are clear—students who don’t come to school are not improving,” Carr said.
2. Decline in Reading for Enjoyment
Fewer students are reading for fun, a trend that correlates with lower reading scores. Surveys conducted alongside the exam in 2022 revealed that fewer young students engage in leisure reading compared to previous years.
3. Mental Health and Disruptions in Learning
The youth mental health crisis and ongoing disruptions caused by the pandemic have created additional hurdles for students, particularly those from low-income or underserved communities.
Widening Achievement Gaps
The performance gap between higher- and lower-performing students has reached record levels, particularly in eighth grade math.
“For a decade, low-performing students have been on the decline. They were hit the hardest by the pandemic, and they continue to fall further behind,” Muldoon explained.
This divide is particularly concerning because students who fall behind in early grades often face long-term academic challenges.
Recovery Success Stories
Despite the overall decline, some regions and school systems have shown signs of improvement:
- Washington, D.C.: Fourth grade math scores increased by 10 points, reflecting significant progress.
- Louisiana: Fourth grade reading scores have surpassed pre-pandemic levels thanks to a statewide reading proficiency campaign.
- Alabama: Fourth grade math performance has also rebounded, exceeding 2019 levels.
“I would not say hope is lost,” Carr said. “Louisiana has demonstrated that recovery is possible with the right interventions.”
The Role of Federal Relief Funds
Big urban districts, including Los Angeles and New York City, made gains in fourth-grade math, which experts attribute to the use of federal pandemic relief funds.
Programs such as intensive tutoring, summer learning programs, and curriculum updates are helping to mitigate learning losses. Ray Hart, executive director of the Council of Great City Schools, noted that investments in recovery efforts are starting to yield positive results.
Political Reactions and Blame
The report has sparked renewed political debate over the handling of education during the pandemic.
Republican Criticism
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, criticized pandemic school closures and Democratic policies for exacerbating the decline in student performance.
“This decline reflects the education bureaucracy’s focus on woke policies rather than helping students learn and grow,” Walberg said.
He added that the Trump administration is committed to reversing course and refocusing efforts on student achievement.
Impact of School Reopening Strategies
The new results do not establish a direct link between school reopening strategies and academic performance, though studies have shown that longer closures often led to bigger learning losses.
However, some states with early reopenings, like Florida and Arizona, still saw reading scores fall in 2024, complicating the debate.
What Needs to Be Done?
Education experts stress the importance of targeted interventions to help low-performing students:
- Intensive tutoring programs
- Parental engagement initiatives
- Curriculum revisions to focus on core skills
- Attendance improvement efforts
Carr emphasized the need for urgency:
“We can turn this around, but it will require focused attention and coordinated action at every level—schools, communities, and policymakers.”
The latest NAEP results highlight the ongoing challenges facing the U.S. education system as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some progress has been made, especially in certain states and districts, the widening achievement gap and decline in reading and math performance underscore the need for urgent and sustained interventions. With targeted efforts, experts remain hopeful that students can regain the ground they have lost.