Test result data released Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) show that reading scores for fourth and eighth graders are down yet again.
In both grades, a two-point drop in reading scores was observed, following a previous drop observed between 2019 and 2022. From January to March of last year, 117,400 fourth graders from 6,100 schools and 114,600 eighth graders from 5,400 schools participated in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessments used to compile the data.
“NAEP achievement levels are performance standards that describe what students should know and be able to do,” per the NCES.
An estimated 31% of fourth grade students were at or above the “NAEP Proficient” level, representative of solid academic performance. That’s two points lower than 2022 scores and five points lower than scores were in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, many schools had to suddenly adopt remote and hybrid learning models when lockdown orders prevented in-person instruction.
Around a year ago, a report from the Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaboration of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, found that “academic achievement gaps that widened during the pandemic still remain and have worsened in some states.”
NCES reported that last year’s reading scores were down in city, suburban and rural locations. However, it also said that, compared to the first reading assessment in 1992, the average score last year was not significantly different.
An estimated 30% of eighth grade students were at the NCES proficient level in 2024. Eighth grader score drops mirrored those of the fourth graders – they were down two points compared to 2022 and five points compared to 2019. Again, the NCES said the 2024 scores were not significantly different than the first assessment in 1992.
For both cohorts of students, absenteeism was lower in 2024 compared to 2022 but higher compared to 2019.
Over the past year, Audacy stations have reported on lower test scores in areas throughout the country. For example, this report on schools in California and this report on schools in Michigan.