Achievement Gap Widens as US Student Scores Remain Low

The most recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that American students' reading and math skills are continuing to deteriorate, making the academic setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic worse. While some high-achieving students are catching up, low-performing students are falling further behind, widening the achievement gap. Eighth-grade reading scores fell significantly, with a concerning number of students lacking basic skills, and fourth-grade math scores showed a slight improvement, but they are still below pre-pandemic levels. The report highlights the complex issues facing the U.S. education system, such as chronic absenteeism and a decline in recreational reading. The findings have sparked renewed debate about the long-term impact of pandemic school closures and fueled partisan arguments over educational policies. Despite the setbacks, officials point to examples of successful interventions, suggesting that improvement is possible with focused efforts.