Younger students in the U.S. have regained academic ground lost during the pandemic, while older students' test scores remain stagnant, according to the latest federal testing data. Nine-year-olds rebounded to pre-pandemic reading scores and saw some recovery in math, according to data from a long-term assessment taken regularly in the U.S. since the 1970s. However, 13-year-olds' average scores in math and reading remain below pre-pandemic averages, with reading scores essentially unchanged since 1971.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, released Wednesday, show that younger students who were 4 years old when the pandemic began in 2020 did not miss key early lessons in literacy and math. These students, now 9, showed gains in both reading and math, with even lower-performing students trending upward. The report suggests this could indicate the potential for broader academic recovery.
For 13-year-olds, the data paints a less optimistic picture. Their scores showed no significant improvement in reading or math compared to the last assessment. Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, emphasized the urgency of addressing middle school outcomes, noting that these students are now in high school and may still be behind.
The long-term trend (LTT) report, part of the NAEP, is given every few years and includes more than 30,000 students from public and private schools. The tests, administered on pencil and paper, have asked many of the same questions since the 1970s, providing a consistent measure of student learning.
Matthew Soldner, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, described the results as "an optimistic release" for younger students but acknowledged the challenges for older students. The report highlights the need for targeted interventions in middle school to address the stagnation in academic progress.