U.S. high school reading and math scores at an all-time low

There has been a lot of attention in the recent press on the recent report that U.S. high school seniors' reading and math scores have dropped to their lowest level in several decades.  These reports also come in the wake of a report suggesting that eighth grade science scores have also declined to their lowest levels.  The new report is known as the Nation's Report Card, and the 2024 results were released this past week by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Department of Education (incidentally, both the NCES and Department of Education underwent significant budget cuts and massive staff reductions imposed by the current U.S. President's administration earlier this year).  

Average scores were lower across all three assessments (science, reading, and math) compared to the previous test scores from 2019.  Thirty-one percent of 8th graders performed at or above what is considered a proficient level.  Twenty-two percent of 12th graders performed at or above a proficient level in mathematics, while thirty-five percent of 12th graders performed at or above a proficient level in reading.

I know that my college prep mathematics sequence required me to take both Algebra 2 and Geometry during my sophomore year of high school, which allowed me to take Calculus during my senior year.  I also know that schools are pushing Algebra 1 earlier and earlier, at least compared to when I took Algebra 1 during 9th grade.  From what I hear, schools today are starting Algebra 1 as early as the 7th grade.  I do wonder if we are pushing Algebra at the expense of other basic mathematics skills.  

The Wall Street Journal published an article and accompanying editorial on September 9th entitled "Another K-12 Education Disaster" and wrote that "a third of high-school seniors lack basic reading skills and nearly half can't do rudimentary math."  They cite multiple factors, including the widespread school shutdowns that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.  While that may be a factor, the data suggest that the trends in decrease in math and reading scores started even prior to the pandemic.  They also suggest, "An emphasis on 'equity' has led some school districts to adopt no-grading and no-homework policies in lower grades.  Schools have reduced graduation requirements and inflated grades across the board.  The result: High-school graduation rates have increased...even as students are less prepared for college."  Other experts raise concerns about absenteeism, teacher turnover, and the impact of social media, as well as school violence and the mental health crisis.

It's hard to avoid politics when it comes to this important issue, and the WSJ editorial staff certainly brought politics into the discussion in their opinion piece.  I honestly don't know the right answer, and I suspect that there is some element of truth to the arguments being made by both sides of the political debate.  What is clear to me (and not political) is that whatever we've been doing in the last decade or so just isn't working.  Education is too important an issue - we don't just need to get a "passing grade" with our education system (and we aren't), we should be trying to get straight A's!