US students' reading and math scores at historic lows: 'Devastating trend'

"High school students, especially 12th graders, are reading and learning math and science at historic lows, according to a new report from the National Assessment of Education Progress. The new report, known as the Nation's Report Card, was released Monday by the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, and the Department of Education. It is the first nation's report card to be released since the coronavirus pandemic."

"By comparison, 37% of high school seniors were reading at or above proficiency in the 2019 report card, and 40% were at or above reading proficiency in 1992. In math, the report shows only about 22% of 12th graders performing at or above proficiency standards. The report card also looked at eighth graders and their science ability and found 31% of them were performing at proficient or above proficient standards."

"Another key issue the report highlighted was absenteeism, with the number of absent students in schools rising among all age groups since the pandemic. According to the report card, in 2024, approximately 31% of 12th graders specifically reported missing at least three or more days of school in the previous month, an increase from 2019, when the rate was 26%."

Almost half of high school seniors are testing below basic levels in math and reading. Approximately 35% of seniors are at or above a proficient reading level, while 32% have below-basic reading proficiency. Reading proficiency was 37% in 2019 and 40% in 1992. Only about 22% of 12th graders meet or exceed math proficiency standards. Thirty-one percent of eighth graders perform at proficient or above in science. Absenteeism has increased across age groups since the pandemic; in 2024 roughly 31% of 12th graders reported missing three or more days in the prior month, up from 26% in 2019. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the findings devastating.

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