Performance in math and reading is still below pre-pandemic levels, according to new data.
Performance in math and reading is still below pre-pandemic levels, according to new data. ·  View in browser
NEWSLETTER
 
Overall, national reading scores declined among fourth and eighth graders between 2022 and 2024. Photos: US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics
Student performance in math and reading is still below pre-pandemic levels, according to new data — but on par with the national average.
By Bianca Fortis

New York student test scores in math and reading have largely stagnated since the pandemic, according to new data released Wednesday.

The National Center for Education Statistics tracks the data among fourth and eighth graders at public schools nationwide and publishes the results every two years. New York hasn’t improved much since the last round of data was released, and its students’ scores are largely consistent with the national average, the data show.

Statewide, fourth grade math scores made moderate gains, and some subgroups — like English Language Learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students — made slight improvements. However, math and reading scores for those groups have largely been on the decline in New York over the last two decades.

“The Nation’s Report Card” previously showed sharp declines in 2022 scores following the Covid-19 pandemic. With schools returning to a sense of normalcy, the latest data offers an important look at how student performance is recovering.

“The news is not good,” said Peggy Carr, the NCES commissioner, during a call with the media. “We're not seeing the progress we need to retain the ground students lost during the pandemic.”

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Staying Focused is compiled and written by Alex Arriaga
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