Decline in National Test Scores: A Closer Look at Recent Educational Challenges
Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, highlights a concerning decline in academic performance among U.S. students. Eighth-graders’ science scores have decreased by four points, while 12th-graders have seen a three-point drop in both math and reading since 2019.
The assessments, conducted from January to March 2024, represent the first such results since significant budget cuts were implemented under the Trump administration. Notably, these cuts included a reduction of over half of the staff at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the body responsible for student achievement metrics and data analysis. For more on the impact of these cuts, see here.
These budgetary constraints also led to the cancellation of approximately a dozen national and state assessments scheduled through 2032, affecting many tests planned for 12th-grade students. NAEP, which has been conducting these assessments since 1969, remains the largest nationally representative test of student performance mandated by Congress. Currently, math and reading tests are administered every two years to fourth and eighth graders and every four years to 12th graders, with additional voluntary assessments available.
Interpreting the Results
The 2024 results indicate that 12th-grade reading scores have declined significantly, with the exception of the highest-achieving students. Compared to the initial reading assessment in 1992, today’s average scores are 10 points lower. Matthew Soldner, acting director of IES, expressed concerns over these findings, noting, “Scores for our lowest-performing students are at historic lows — continued declines that began more than a decade ago.”
For more analysis on the trends affecting student performance, read this article.
The 2024 assessment also evaluated students’ reading comprehension skills and surveyed their learning experiences both inside and outside of school. In math, 12th-grade scores fell by the same margin as in reading, marking a three-point decline since 2005. Soldner emphasized the need for “concerted, focused action to accelerate student learning.”
Eighth-graders showed a four-point drop in science scores, affecting both low- and high-performing students. Additionally, fewer students reported high confidence in their science abilities, and a significant number of 12th-graders reported missing several school days before taking the test.
Impact of Federal Changes on Assessments
The federal government does not dictate school curricula, making it difficult to attribute NAEP scores to any single administration. However, federal changes have influenced the administration of the Nation’s Report Card. A senior official at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which administers NAEP, revealed that only two senior staffers were available to handle the latest release due to budget cuts.
In response to these challenges, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has approved a waiver to add at least eight staff positions by the end of the year to meet congressional testing mandates in 2026 and 2028. Marty West, a member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and vice chair of the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), expressed optimism about meeting future NAEP deadlines, noting that preparations for upcoming tests began years in advance.
This spring, the NAGB reduced the number of planned assessments, including tests for fourth-grade science and 12th-grade U.S. history, to allow NCES to focus on key tests like math and reading. West stated, “We felt [it] was an important step so that we could allow our colleagues at NCES to focus their energies on the tests that we felt were most important.”
The NAGB, an independent body devoid of federal officials, is structured to serve the needs of state and local governments while maintaining a nonpartisan stance in educational assessments.
