Slump in U.S. Academic Performance

Test scores of United States high school students reveal a decline in college and career readiness. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that twelfth-grade reading and math scores fell to their lowest levels on record in 2024, and similar results were observed in the test scores of fourth- and eighth- graders. “This means students are taking their next steps in life with fewer skills and less knowledge in core academics than their predecessors a decade ago” (Christian Science Monitor, September 9, 2025).

A need for remedial coursework to prepare youth for the university classroom will only serve to prolong the time it takes them to earn a degree and meet the standards of advancing industries, and there are “significant implications for national economic competitiveness and national security” (Christian Science Monitor). Martin R. West, the vice-chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, notes that “achievement in each of these subjects was already trending downward before the pandemic—and there’s no reason to expect a ‘return to normal,’ or to pre-pandemic learning conditions, would stop or reverse these declines” (Education Week, September 9, 2025).

Different explanations have been put forth regarding what is driving these trends. The pandemic resulted in life disruptions in and out of school and the easing of academic accountability. However, the leading premise for the drop in scores is “the proliferation of phones and screens,” though direct evidence is currently limited (ChalkBeat.org, January 8, 2026). In today’s world, knowing how to navigate technology and avoid its pitfalls is of urgent importance. You can learn more by reading or listening to “Tame the Social Media Monster!”