Another Year, Another Depressing Report on the State of American Education
17th September 2025
The most recent numbers from The Nation’s Report Card, put out by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, are depressing when it comes to the present state of American education and the future of our nation.
The report, based on test results from 2024 shows a 4% drop since 2019—the last time the assessment was taken—in science scores for eighth grade students, and a 3% decline for high school seniors in both math and reading.
Even more alarmingly, less than one-third of eighth graders scored at or above the NAEP proficiency in science, and more than a third scored below even the most basic knowledge mark. The declines were even more pronounced for lower-performing students.