Additional Coverage:
- American students’ reading skills are at their lowest level since testing began over 30 years ago (newsbreak.com)
Local students’ reading scores have plummeted to their lowest levels since record-keeping began in 1992. New data paints a grim picture of literacy in the wake of the pandemic.
Just 67% of eighth-graders tested at or above a basic reading level this year. Fourth-graders fared even worse, with only 60% reaching that benchmark.
This downward trend predates the pandemic, but has significantly worsened in recent years. These declining scores have experts concerned about long-term consequences.
Lower reading levels are linked to lower high school graduation rates and fewer opportunities for advanced careers. Studies also show a correlation with higher rates of crime and incarceration.
While fourth-grade math scores saw a slight improvement, eighth-grade math scores remained stagnant. Both groups, however, are performing below pre-pandemic levels.
These alarming results come as schools grapple with ongoing challenges, including increased absenteeism, rising violence, and the pervasive distraction of technology.