WASHINGTON — The Nation’s Report Card, was released by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. The effects of COVID-19 with school cancellations and online learning are becoming more evident. The national average score declines in mathematics for fourth- and eighth-graders were the largest ever recorded in that subject.
A majority of states saw scores decline for fourth- and eighth-graders in mathematics and reading between 2019 and 2022, according to the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
As expected, scores were down nationally compared to 2019, the last time students took the assessment. Math scores declined the most, particularly in middle school. Reading scores also are down, and early literacy continues be a main area of focus. Ohio’s results declined but were higher than the national average in math and similar to the national average in reading.
Ohio’s fourth grade math score was 238 compared to the national average of 235. In 2019 the national average and the Ohio score were at 241. In fourth grade reading Ohio scores were 219 compared to the national average of 216. In 2019 the national average was 219 with Ohio’s score at 222.
In eighth grade reading, the national average in 2022 was 259 with Ohio scoring just above the national average at 262. In 2019 the national average was 262 with Ohio scoring 267. In math, Ohio students scored slightly above the national average of 273 with a state average of 276. In 2019 the national average was 281 with Ohio scoring 286.
A majority of states saw lower scores, on average, across grades and subjects since 2019. There were no improvements in fourth- and eighth-grade mathematics, as average fourth-grade mathematics scores declined in 43 states and jurisdictions and did not change in 10, and eighth-grade mathematics scores declined in 51 states and jurisdictions and remained steady in two. There were no improvements in fourth-grade reading, as average fourth-grade reading scores declined in 30 states and jurisdictions and did not change in 22. At eighth grade, reading scores declined in 33 states and jurisdictions, did not change in 18, and rose in one.
Across both subjects and grades, higher percentages of higher-performing students (those students performing at or above the 75th percentile) had access to more key educational resources than lower-performing students (those students performing below the 25th percentile) during remote learning in the 2020–21 school year, including the following: access to a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet all the time; a quiet place to work at least some of the time; and their teacher available to help with schoolwork at least once or twice a week.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
