But while math scores have inched up every year, reading scores remain stagnant, the report shows. In 2024, reading scores for fourth- and eighth-graders continued a downward slide, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Math scores, however, trended upward.Testing for younger kids is less common, so the NWEA report offers insights into the depth of the academic disruption. Math and reading scores are still falling short of pre-pandemic levels, although math scores are slowly rising. Reading scores have remained roughly the same since the spring of 2021, when the first full school year in the pandemic was wrapping up.It's unclear what is depressing the scores.

Source: Economic Times March 10, 2026 19:10 UTC