U.S. high school students lose ground in math and reading, continuing years-long decline

We urge Congress to defund all federal education programs, close the U.S. Department of Education, and allow all control to move to parents and local communities 

American high school students’ reading and math scores are at their lowest level in more than 20 years, according to a major national educational survey. 

This is yet more proof that America’s government-run educational system, dominated by leftwing teachers’ unions, is a failure and a disgrace. While some try to blame the COVID-19 pandemic school closings, it’s clear that this has been going on for a long time.   

The findings were announced on Sept. 9 with the release of the latest National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), often called “the nation’s report card.” 

“A decade-long slide in high schoolers’ reading and math performance persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 12th graders’ scores dropping to their lowest level in more than 20 years, according to results released Tuesday,” NBC News reported. “Eighth-grade students also lost significant ground in science skills.” 

“The assessments reflect a downward drift across grade levels and subject areas in previous releases from NAEP, which is considered one of the best gauges of the academic progress of U.S. schools.” 

Test scores show more students are not reaching what would be considered “basic” achievement across subject areas, said Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board. 

This exposes the incredible incompetence of the education industry. They don’t know how to teach children anymore. We urge Congress to defund all federal education programs, close the U.S. Department of Education, and allow all control to move to parents and local communities.  

Christine Cunningham, senior vice president of STEM learning at the Museum of Science in Boston, noted that declines in scores across subjects began well before 2020. 

“We don’t know exactly what the cause of it is, but it would be incomplete to assume that if we hadn’t had COVID, the score would not have gone down,” Cunningham said. “That’s not what the data showed even before the pandemic.” 

In English and language arts, schools are now emphasizing short texts and book excerpts, said Carol Jago, associate director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA. Jago, who taught high school English 20 years ago, said her students usually read 20 books over the course of a year. Some English classes are now assigning just three books a year. 

“To be a good reader, you have to have the stamina to stay on the page, even when the going gets tough,” Jago told the AP. “You have to build those muscles, and we’re not building those muscles in kids.” 

Parents, educate your own children. You can’t do worse than today’s ‘professionals.’

To hear more from USPIE’s Founder and President, Sheri Few, tune in to the latest episode of USPIE’s podcast, “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few,” on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with special guest Andrea Schwartz from the Chalcedon Foundation. Schwartz is the author of eight books, including “A House for God: Building a Kingdom-Driven Family,” “Empowered: Developing Strong Women for Kingdom Service,” “Woman of the House: A Mother’s Role in Building a Christian Culture,” and “The Homeschool Life: Discovering God’s Way to Family-Based Education.” Andrea devotes much of her time to writing, speaking, and mentoring on the Christian philosophy of education, serving both homeschooling parents and Christian schools, and she also hosts two podcasts.

USPIE’s “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” is a weekly podcast that exposes the dangers of education shaped by government bureaucrats and social engineers, while exploring practical ways to protect children and preserve America’s freedom. Listen to “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and X.

United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) is a nonprofit, nationwide coalition that is fighting to return education to its proper local roots and restore parental authority over their children’s education by helping parents and local communities to escape federal and other national influences. It is the vision of USPIE to create a culture where parents, empowered with the authority to choose what and how their children learn, are the undisputed primary educators of their children, where local schools operate in support of families, and where education is unencumbered by federal mandates.

USPIE’s powerful documentary, “Truth & Lies in American Education,” addresses some of the most glaring issues in the American education system and equips parents to make a change in their local school district for the betterment of their children. The film follows Few’s daughter-in-law, April, as she seeks to learn more about the system she was planning on exposing to her own children and learns the shocking truth. “Truth & Lies in American Education” is available for streaming on SalemNOW, as well available on DVD.