The National Center for Education Statistics released its latest “Nation’s Report Card” on Tuesday, revealing that 12th-grade reading and math scores have dropped to their lowest level in decades.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon addressed the results in a video posted on X, noting a downward trend in test scores that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Despite billions in federal spending and countless well-intentioned programs, the achievement gap between students is widening, not shrinking. And this trend did not begin with COVID, it goes back a decade,” McMahon said. She noted that last year, 78 percent of 12th graders were not proficient in math, and 65 percent were not proficient in reading.
“Clearly, success is not about how much money we spend, but who spends it,” McMahon continued. “That’s why President Trump and I are committed to reversing course and returning control of education to the states so local communities with parents in the driver’s seat can better innovate, adapt, and tailor education to their students’ needs.”
The national assessment, which tracks student performance across several subjects, reported that the average reading score for 12th graders last year was three points lower than in 2019, marking the lowest score since the assessment began in 1992. 32 percent of high school seniors scored below “basic” in reading, meaning they could not locate key details in a text to interpret its meaning.
The average score in math was the lowest recorded since 2005, with 45 percent of students falling below the “basic” level.
Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg issued a statement warning of broader consequences from the decline. “
“Today’s NAEP scores continue to show a devastating decline in math, science, and reading scores. Low academic skills don’t just hurt grades, they weaken our economy, workforce, and national security. Without strong foundations in these core subjects, America’s freedom and economic competitiveness will be in jeopardy,” Walberg said.
