Federal Data Show 13-Year-Olds' Reading And Math Scores Still Stalled
The National Center for Education Statistics released long-term trend test results on June 10, 2026 showing 13-year-olds' reading and math scores remain below pre-pandemic levels nationwide.[1]
The long-term trend assessments tested roughly 31,000 U.S. students in 2024-25 and showed no significant gains for 13-year-olds since 2023.[1] Only 58% of 13-year-olds met a basic reading benchmark and 70% met a basic math benchmark.[1] By contrast, nine-year-olds rebounded to pre-pandemic reading levels and improved in math, with 71% meeting the reading benchmark and 84% meeting math.[1] Only 14% of 13-year-olds and 37% of nine-year-olds reported reading for fun every day, both sharply down from 2012 levels.[2]
In March 2020, widespread U.S. school closures moved most K-12 students to remote learning for the rest of 2019-20 and into 2020-21. The National Assessment of Educational Progress long-term trend assessments were moved up to track COVID effects. Results in 2022 and 2023 documented drops in reading and math that fell further among students who were in elementary grades during the worst disruptions. That timing helps explain why nine-year-olds, who began school closer to the return of normal instruction, show recovery while 13-year-olds remain stalled.
Advocates and analysts warned that stalled skills at age 13, combined with falling daily reading habits, could narrow students' later academic options and economic opportunities if those gaps are not addressed in middle and high school.
The mainstream summary does not address the historical context of the NAEP long-term trend assessments, which have been tracking reading and math scores for 13-year-olds since 1973, providing over 50 years of comparable data. This context is crucial as it highlights that the stagnation in scores is not solely a pandemic issue but part of a broader trend that has seen 13-year-olds' reading scores stagnate at levels comparable to those from 1971, with math scores declining since 2012. This perspective is underscored by social media insights, where users have pointed out that accountability for educational outcomes should also consider these longer-term trends rather than attributing all issues to recent disruptions. Additionally, the mainstream account does not mention that only 14% of 13-year-olds now read for fun daily, a statistic that underscores a significant cultural shift in reading habits that could further impact academic performance and economic opportunities in the future, as noted by various commentators on social media.
Furthermore, while the mainstream summary suggests that the pandemic's impact is the primary reason for the stagnation, analyses indicate that a 'learning recession' in middle grades began around 2012, compounding the effects of COVID-19. This indicates that the challenges faced by 13-year-olds are multifaceted, involving both pre-existing educational deficits and the exacerbation of these issues due to pandemic-related disruptions. Scholars from institutions like Dartmouth and Harvard emphasize that the transition from elementary to middle school has posed particular challenges, which the summary does not fully capture. This broader understanding of educational decline is critical for addressing the root causes of the current academic stagnation among older students.
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📊 Relevant Data
NAEP long-term trend assessments for reading and mathematics at ages 9 and 13 have been administered since 1971 and 1973, respectively, providing more than 50 years of comparable national data on foundational skills.
NAEP Long-Term Trend Assessment Results — National Center for Education Statistics / The Nation's Report Card
In fall 2022, U.S. public elementary and secondary schools enrolled approximately 49.6 million students in prekindergarten through grade 12.
Public School Enrollment — National Center for Education Statistics Condition of Education
📌 Key Facts
- On June 10, 2026, NCES released long-term trend assessment results for roughly 31,000 U.S. students tested in the 2024-2025 school year.
- Nine-year-olds have rebounded to pre-pandemic reading scores and improved in math, with 71% meeting a basic reading benchmark and 84% meeting it in math.
- Thirteen-year-olds’ average reading and math scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, with 58% meeting the reading benchmark and 70% meeting it in math and no significant gains since 2023.
- Only 14% of 13-year-olds and 37% of 9-year-olds reported reading for fun every day, both sharply down from 2012 levels.
- Officials note that 13-year-olds in the sample were in early elementary grades during the height of COVID disruptions, while 9-year-olds began school closer to a return to normal in-person instruction.
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