New Study: Students’ Scores Show ‘Steep Declines’ in Math, Reading

Thirteen-year-olds are “struggling academically amid achievement declines that worsened during the pandemic, particularly in math,” according to a new study published by The Nation’s Report Card. 

Averages declined 9 points in math and 4 points in reading when compared to the previous test completed in 2020. More drastically, the results pale in comparison to scores from a decade earlier, sliding by 14 points in math and 7 points in reading. 

Taken by 8,700 7th and 8th graders last fall, the test was administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), who categorized the data into five selected percentile levels (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th). Each subgroups’ math results dipped, ranging from a 6 to 8-point slide for middle- and higher-performing students to 12 to 14 points for lower-performing students. Reading scores had similar, though less dramatic, outcomes with declines from 3 to 4 points for middle- and higher-performing students and 6 to 7 points for lower-performing students. 

When examining different regions (Northeast, Midwest, South and West), the Northeast’s scores dropped 8 points in reading and 11 points in math, tying the Midwest for the worst dip in reading, while suffering the second worst decline in math. In math, the Midwest fared the worst (12-point decline). 

Even though the study did not highlight results on a state-to-state basis, NAEP scores released last October indicate that while Connecticut’s scores declined, the state’s students fared better than the national average overall (see charts below). However, in the same assessment, Connecticut’s test scores dropped faster than the national average — falling by 5 points (fourth-grade reading); 6 points (eighth-grade reading); 7 points (fourth-grade mathematics); and 10 points (eighth-grade mathematics). Comparatively, national average scores dipped by 3 points (fourth- and eighth-grade reading), 5 points (fourth-grade mathematics) and 8 points (eighth-grade mathematics).   

The Constitution State, however, did not suffer the most significant drops with Virginia (-10), Maine (-8), Delaware (-14), and Oklahoma (-13) outpacing the race to the bottom, respectively. 

In the Nation’s Report Card’s press release, Beverly Perdue — National Assessment Governing Board chair and former North Carolina governor — said students are “struggling across the board” and that “Educators, policymakers, and families need to work together urgently and decisively to address this generation’s learning needs.”  

But action should not necessarily be throwing more money at the problem. According to a new study published by Yankee Institute and conducted by the Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence (CTCEE) in partnership with the University of New Haven’s Liberty Initiative, increased state spending does not reduce the education achievement gap.  

Despite boasting some of the nation’s best performing schools, Connecticut likewise has some of the country’s widest disparities in academic performance with the state, a phenomenon known as the “achievement gap.” 

The study notes that Litchfield has the highest spending per student at $23,387, while Tolland spends an average of $16,972. The latter, however, still ranks in the top three counties across all academic performance scores. Although the two counties have the widest gap in per-pupil spending between districts, they have the narrowest achievement gap in each category across all districts. 

Ultimately, rather than simply spending more in lower-performing districts, policymakers, educators and the community at-large will have to find creative ways to address the national slide in both math and reading. 

NAEP’s October Test Results: Connecticut  

Math Grade 4 

Reading Grade 4 

Math Grade 8 

Reading Grade 8