New federal test scores reveal a promising trend: average reading and math scores for 9-year-old students have increased from 2022 to 2025, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The tests, which are part of the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), were taken by over 30,000 students between October 2024 and March 2025. The results show gains in both reading and math for younger students, with lower-performing students also showing improvement.

Reading and Math Trends

The report highlights that students who were 4 years old when the pandemic started in 2020 and began school after most places returned to full-time, in-person instruction, showed significant gains. This suggests that the lack of disruption in their early education may have contributed to their improved scores.

In contrast, 13-year-old students showed no significant improvement in reading or math, with scores remaining below pre-pandemic levels. This stagnation is particularly concerning, as it may be a consequence of the pandemic’s disruption to their critical early education years.

A significant decline in reading for fun was also noted, with only 14% of 13-year-old students reporting daily reading, compared to 35% in 1984. In contrast, 37% of 9-year-old students reported reading for fun every day.

Implications and Next Steps

The report’s findings have significant implications for education policy, with experts calling for a renewed focus on middle school years. Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, emphasized the need for collective effort to address the stagnation in 13-year-old students’ scores.

The report’s release comes at a time when the U.S. Education Department is facing cuts, including the cancellation of several national and state assessments. The next iteration of these tests is not scheduled until 2033, making this report a critical benchmark for measuring student progress.

The improvement in younger students’ scores offers a glimmer of hope for the nation’s education system, but the stagnation in older students’ scores serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that need to be addressed to ensure all students receive a high-quality education.