By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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The reading and math scores of 12th graders has dropped to their lowest level in more than 20 years, according to results from an exam known as the nation's report card.
Why It Matters
The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP)—which is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics with the U.S. Department of Education—is considered one of the best gauges of the academic progress of U.S. schools.
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The assessments were the first for 12th graders in reading and math and eighth graders in science since the COVID-19 pandemic upended education for children, and reflect learning declines that started well before the pandemic.
The results comes as children are increasingly spending time on smartphones and social media, which experts have warned are contributing to a decline in academic performance.
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What To Know
The average score in reading for 12th graders was the lowest since the NAEP first administered the reading assessment in 1992. It was three points lower than in 2019 and 10 points lower than in 1992.
Thirty-two percent of 12th graders scored below the NAEP Basic level in 2024, meaning they could not locate and identify details in a text to help understand its meaning.
The average score for 12th graders in math in 2024 was the lowest since 2005, when the math assessment framework changed significantly. Almost half (45 percent) of 12th graders scored below the NAEP Basic level.
The average score for eighth-grade students in science fell for the first time since the current assessment began in 2009, according to the results. Thirty-eight percent of eighth-graders scored below the NAEP Basic level In 2024, which was five points higher than in 2019 but not significantly different from 2009.
What People Are Saying
Matthew Soldner, the acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said in a statement: "These results are sobering. The drop in overall scores coincides with significant declines in achievement among out lowest-performing students, continuing a downward trend that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Among our nation's high school seniors, we're now seeing a larger percentage of students scoring below the NAEP Basic achievement level in mathematics and reading than in any previous assessment."
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement: "Today's NAEP results confirm a devastating trend: American students are testing at historic lows across all of K-12. At a critical juncture when students are about to graduate and enter the workforce, military, or higher education, nearly half of America's high school seniors are testing at below basic levels in math and reading. 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 added: "The lesson is clear. Success isn't about how much money we spend, but who controls the money and where that money is invested. That's why President Trump and I are committed to returning control of education to the states so they can innovate and meet each school and students' unique needs. If America is going to remain globally competitive, students must be able to read proficiently, think critically, and graduate equipped to solve complex problems. We owe it to them to do better."
What's Next
States and school districts have taken measures to make up for learning losses from the pandemic, but the latest NAEP results show that nationally, students have not made up for the lost ground.
A White House statement from March 2025 said that "closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them [and] ultimately, the Department of Education's main functions can, and should, be returned to the States".
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