Struggling High School Seniors Sustain Significant Decline on 'Nation's Academic Assessment'

In a recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report, concerning trends in science and math education among American students have emerged.

The scores of 8th graders in science have taken a significant dip, erasing the average growth made since 2009. This decline was observed across the board, with steeper drops seen among those performing at lower levels, widening the achievement gap. girls' scores in 8th grade science declined further than boys' scores, reopening a gender achievement gap in the subject.

A study from the testing group NWEA revealed an unexpected finding: boys outperformed girls in 8th grade science. This could be a cause for concern, as some pandemic-era initiatives aimed at encouraging girls in STEM may have been lost during the disruption of education.

In math, only 33% of 8th graders met the bar for college readiness, compared with 37% in 2019. The situation is even more dire for high school seniors, with only 35% of 12th graders meeting the bar for college readiness in reading, compared with 37% in 2019. In math, a staggering 45% of 12th graders are below NAEP's threshold for "basic" performance, while 32% of students are below the same cutoff in reading.

Absenteeism is a growing concern, with 31% of high school seniors missing three or more days of school in the previous month. This could be a contributing factor to the declining scores.

The 2024 NAEP results also show that more students than ever before are scoring below NAEP's threshold for mastery of "basic" skills. The scores of American students in both math and reading at the lowest levels have reached an all-time high.

The loss in 8th grade science scores and the drop in average reading and math scores for high school seniors demonstrate the need for more emphasis on science education, particularly in elementary schools. Research shows that more science starting pre-K, kindergarten can engage students, increase their interest in school, and improve their math and literacy performance.

Operations at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Institute for Education Sciences face uncertainty due to federal staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Education. This could potentially impact future NAEP assessments and the ability to track progress in science and math education.

The National Girls Collaborative, an initiative that seeks to engage more girls in STEM, noted that some extra initiatives aimed at encouraging girls in STEM may have been lost during the pandemic. This underscores the importance of continued support for such initiatives to ensure gender parity in STEM fields.

The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), an independent, bipartisan organization representing state and local officials, sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). As these trends continue, it will be crucial for the NAGB to address these challenges and develop strategies to improve science and math education in America.

Struggling High School Seniors Sustain Significant Decline on 'Nation's Academic Assessment'