The reading and math scores of 12th graders have plunged to their lowest level in over 20 years.

The scores, part of a test from the National Assessment of Education Progress, showed the average reading score for 12th graders dropped to the lowest level since the NAEP first administered the reading assessment in 1992. The average score for 12th graders in math in 2024 was the lowest since 2005, when the math assessment framework changed significantly.

These scores have come as a shock to some, but not everyone.

For educators, these low test scores are part of a broader trend of declining academic performance. Chantel Jiroch and Careshia Moore, co-authors of Raising America: A Visual Celebration of Educators, told Newsweek, “Education was drastically reshaped by the global pandemic, leading to decreased achievement across various subjects and demographics.”

Beyond the shockwaves the pandemic sent through the education system, concerns have arisen that students today exhibit an overdependence on technology, a lack of interest in learning, and short attention spans.

The Reality in Classrooms

Elizabeth McPherson, known by her TikTok handle Ms. Mac, told Newsweek that these declining scores “absolutely” reflect what she sees day to day in the classroom.

“Teachers have been sounding the alarm for years, and it feels oddly ironic that with all of the over-testing we already put students through, it took yet another “more important” test to confirm what we’ve been saying all along,” McPherson said. “I’m glad the conversation is finally happening on a larger scale, but the truth is, the decline has been unfolding in front of the entire country for years.”

Matt Eicheldinger, a New York Times bestselling author and social media creator with a background in teaching, wasn’t so sure. Asked if these scores reflected what he is seeing every day in schools, he said, “Not necessarily,” but noted that he is only interacting with students in his building and district.

Gabe Dannebring, a teacher and social media creator who has amassed over 1 million followers on TikTok, told Newsweek that he has “noticed that students who are struggling tend to continue struggling if no intervention is provided.”

The Biggest Challenges Facing Students

The pattern of concern is clear. But what’s driving the decline?

“As a teacher of 22 years, I can say with certainty that declining scores have more to do with societal shifts than with schools,” Nicholas Ferroni, a New Jersey-based high school educator, told Newsweek.

As far as Ferroni is concerned, educators are continuing to provide a quality education, and the blame falls on them when scores decline. However, no one discusses the roots of the issues.

“Because of cellphone use and screen time, students are reading less, writing less, thinking less, and there is only so much a teacher can do in a 40-minute class period,” Ferroni said. “I do everything I can to enhance the skills that students need to thrive, but unless they are nurtured and encouraged outside of school, it is a losing battle.”

Ferroni told Newsweek, “Technology and social media are rewiring students’ brains, impacting their focus, social skills, and emotional intelligence. I have such great students, but I worry about how they will fare in the future. With screen time rising and tech companies vying for their attention, parents, teachers, and schools face an uphill battle.”

Eicheldinger also highlighted a key area of concern, telling Newsweek, “What I am noticing is the lack of reading outside the classroom, not just for academic studying, but also for enjoyment, and this has a large impact on how students focus and perform in the classroom.

“Students not having an understanding of rigor is negatively impacting their ability to perform longer tasks. Long passages, multi-step maths problems, and projects that don’t have fast results all have one thing in common, according to Eicheldinger, and it’s that students get overwhelmed while doing them.

“They may switch tasks or look for quick answers rather than wrestle with complexity, and this makes it difficult to really dig deep into concepts we want students to learn,” he said.

Another issue, highlighted by Dannebring, is “chronic absenteeism.”

“Students are missing school at alarming rates for many different reasons. In addition, attention spans seem shorter than in the past, though that’s true for adults as well,” he said.

McPherson, meanwhile, told Newsweek, “In an age of instant gratification, it’s hard to convince them to embrace the discomfort of failure, put in the practice, and do the hard work of learning, especially in subjects they don’t find interesting or see as valuable.”

Beyond this, McPherson noted that kids, smart as they are, have clocked on to the fact that they are often able to get away with doing the bare minimum.

“Over the years, I’ve seen fewer students with that intrinsic drive to excel, and even those who do want to push themselves struggle to stay motivated when surrounded by apathy,” she said.

What Can Be Done to Stop the Decline?

The concerns that education in America is on a downward trajectory are well established. So, what can be done to course-correct?

“Children are capable of incredible growth, and there are countless teachers who can guide them toward those breakthroughs,” McPherson told Newsweek. But things need to change for that to become a reality.

“Teachers need to be invited into the conversation and truly listened to. And people need to accept that, like with most things in life, this will feel uncomfortable until it gets better. The brain is a muscle; it needs to be trained,” she said.

“Real change takes time, and it won’t show up in just a year or two of test scores. We have to set clear expectations and hold students accountable when they fall short. Failure is part of learning, and what matters most is how they bounce back; and they will bounce back, I see it all the time.”

Dannebring highlighted key steps that can be taken, which were:

• Provide interventions early in a child’s education.
• Encourage parents to play an active role in their child’s learning.
• Take strong measures to reduce chronic absenteeism.
• If proper interventions had taken place, a student would be required to retake a failed class.

Eicheldinger emphasized the importance of reading as a means for improvement.

“We need parents to carve out time for reading outside of school. Reading proficiency is a large indicator of successful outcomes in education and in life, so prioritizing reading above screen time is a must,” he said.

It’s also important to build a successful path to reading.

“In order for a book to have a chance, we need to limit or remove the competition: phones, tablets, and television. This happens when students are in school, too; many are on tablets for class assignments the majority of the day at school, and there is little evidence or research to suggest that this has a positive impact on student learning,” he said.

Dannebring told Newsweek that despite the issues at hand, he is “cautiously optimistic.”

“Schools are aware of the data and know that change is needed,” he said, adding that schools are “Investing in strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism, which has become one of the biggest barriers to learning.”

McPherson, too, remains hopeful.

“I’ve witnessed incredible transformations in students who were given the right support and structure,” she said, adding, “Students will rise to meet high expectations if we finally build systems that don’t hold them back.”

Full Interview Below

Newsweek‘s interview with Matt Eicheldinger, a New York Times bestselling author and social media creator with a background in teaching.

Q1: From your experience in the classroom, do these declining scores reflect what you are seeing day to day?

Not necessarily, but that is because I am only interacting with the students within my building/district. What I am noticing is the lack of reading outside the classroom, not just for academic studying, but also for enjoyment, and this has a large impact on how students focus and perform in the classroom.

Q2: Looking ahead, do you expect this problem to get worse as even younger children—who were in their earliest learning stages during the pandemic—begin reaching high school?

Historically, the percentage of students reading for enjoyment has always trended downward as students got older, especially post-middle school. I do not see this getting worse for learners who were in the early stages of their education during the pandemic, but I do see it getting worse for education as a whole.

Q3: In your view, what can be done to stop or reverse this decline? Are there practical steps schools, families, or policymakers should be taking right now?

We need parents to carve out time for reading outside of school. Reading proficiency is a large indicator of successful outcomes in education and in life, so prioritizing reading above screen time is a must. I cannot tell you how many conversations I’ve had with parents who feel they are unable to change the routines at home, or “can’t get their kid to read,” but in the same breath, are not willing to make changes to personal electronic device use.

In order for a book to have a chance, we need to limit or remove the competition: phones, tablets, television. This happens when students are in school, too; many are on tablets for class assignments the majority of the day at school, and there is little evidence or research to suggest that this has a positive impact on student learning.

Q4: Beyond test scores, what are the biggest changes you’ve observed in students’ abilities, focus, or motivation over the past few years?

Students not having an understanding of rigor is negatively impacting their ability to perform longer tasks. Reading long passages, tackling multi-step math problems, or sticking with a project that doesn’t have instant results can feel overwhelming to many students. They may switch tasks or look for quick answers rather than wrestle with complexity, and this makes it difficult to really dig deep into concepts we want students to learn.