Teens’ reading and math scores have stagnated, US test results show
The scores underscore widening pandemic-era gaps, as 9-year-olds gained 4 points in both subjects while older students stayed flat, officials said.
- Federal data released Wednesday shows 9-year-olds regained pre-pandemic reading levels and improved in math, while 13-year-olds' scores continue to stagnate below pre-pandemic averages.
- Younger students entered kindergarten as schools reopened after pandemic closures, avoiding early disruption, whereas 13-year-olds faced school shutdowns during formative elementary years that stalled their academic progress.
- Only 14% of 13-year-olds read for fun daily, down from 37% in 1992, and just 58% met reading benchmarks, reflecting persistent literacy challenges for adolescents.
- Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, said the lack of progress "raises huge questions" and urged the nation to "bring more focus to the middle school years."
- This LTT report is the last for years; the Education Department canceled national assessments through 2032 following budget cuts, meaning tests won't return until 2033.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Teens’ reading and math scores have stagnated, U.S. test results show
WASHINGTON — Younger students have regained ground academically after the pandemic’s disruptions while older students’ test scores continue to stagnate, according to the latest testing data released Wednesday by the federal government. Read more...
Federal Test Data Shows US Students Are Still Behind Pre-Pandemic Levels in Maths and Falling Further Behind China
America's 13-year-olds have made no measurable progress in maths or reading since 2023, with current scores remaining significantly lower than those recorded before the pandemic, according to new federal data released on 10 June 2026. The National Assessment of Educational Progress long-term trend results show a stark generational divide. Nine-year-olds posted gains of four points in both maths and reading compared to 2022, a development federal…
One group of students is making progress. The other doesn’t have much time left.
National test results reveal that a year ago, 9-year-olds performed nearly as well as their counterparts did before the pandemic. But kids on the cusp of high school were far below past achievement highs.
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