Math Scores Up Slightly, Reading Continues Decline in National Report Card

A nationwide test of reading and math aptitude in US 4th and 8th graders revealed that students are still struggling to recover from learning losses that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “nation’s report card,” as the yearly test is called, is given by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Between January and March of last year, it administered the NAEP, or National Assessment of Educational Progress, to 117,400 4th grade students and 114,600 8th grade students across all 50 states. The results?

“The news is not good,” Peggy Carr of the NCES told The Associated Press (AP). “We are not seeing the progress we need to regain the ground our students lost during the pandemic.” Carr is the NCES's commissioner.

Overall math scores ticked up slightly. But experts were concerned by the reading outcomes. The average reading score in 2024 for both 4th and 8th grade was 2 points lower than in 2022. It was also 5 points off of 2019’s mark. Students scoring in the 90th percentile or above saw their scores hold steady year to year. But lower-performing students continued to slide. The pattern repeated in 8th grade math. The top 10% logged a 3% increase in their scores. The bottom 10%? They saw scores slide 6 points.

Carr did point out that some states, like Louisiana and Alabama, which were able to open their rural schools more quickly than those in states with higher urban populations, were able to surpass 2019’s scores. 

“I would not say that hope is lost, and I would not say that we cannot turn this around,” Carr said. “It’s been demonstrated that we can.” 

Reflect: What are some ways that schools can help students catch up after losing valuable learning time?