US K-12 Students Score Historic Lows in 2024 Nation’s Report Card

The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card, reveals historic declines in U.S. students' academic performance, particularly among high school seniors in math and reading. Only 35% of 12th graders reached proficiency in reading, and just 22% in math, marking the lowest scores since the assessments began, with the lowest-performing students experiencing the steepest declines. These results, described as "sobering" by NCES acting Commissioner Matthew Soldner and "devastating" by Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, highlight a troubling trend predating the COVID-19 pandemic but exacerbated by it. Utah students performed better than the national average in math but still showed declining reading scores among eighth graders. Education experts and commentators are calling for urgent reforms, including reconsidering school choice, curriculum rigor, and questioning the effectiveness of increased spending, as the current trajectory risks undermining future workforce readiness and societal well-being. The widespread concern emphasizes the need for focused action to reverse these declines and address systemic issues affecting American education.