U.S. Student Scores Hit Historic Lows in Latest ‘Nation’s Report Card,’ Raising Economic Concerns
U.S. Student Scores Hit Historic Lows in Latest ‘Nation’s Report Card,’ Raising Economic Concerns
New data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveals a significant slump in U.S. student performance, with average reading and math scores for 12th graders plummeting to their lowest levels on record. The 2024 results, often referred to as “the nation’s report card,” also highlight a concerning decline in science knowledge among eighth graders, signaling potential profound implications for the country’s economic future.
The latest assessments, the first since the pandemic, offer a sobering look at ongoing learning struggles. Twelfth graders’ average math score of 147 (on a 300-point scale) is the lowest since the assessment began in 2005, with only 22% demonstrating proficiency. Similarly, their average reading score of 283 (on a 500-point scale) marks a more than three-decade low, with just 35% reading at or above a proficient level.
These declines are nearly across-the-board, widening the gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students. Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, emphasized the severity: “This means students are taking their next steps in life with fewer skills and less knowledge in core academics than their predecessors a decade ago.”
Eighth graders’ science scores also proved troublesome, falling to 2009 levels. Only 31% of eighth graders achieved proficiency, and the assessment noted a re-emergence of a gender gap, with girls falling behind boys once again. Matthew Soldner, acting commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics, underscored the importance of these results: “We certainly know that STEM has significant implications for national economic competitiveness and national security, and so we can’t not pay attention to these eighth grade science results.”
Experts suggest the downward trend in science could stem from a post-pandemic focus on reading and math, reducing time for other subjects, as well as a drop in student motivation and interest in science. These outcomes raise urgent concerns about college and career readiness, pointing to a critical need for educational improvements and potentially new approaches to support student success.
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