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.
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.
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.
