The nation has received its report card, and the findings show that U.S. students are struggling at historic lows.
The latest results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) revealed a troubling decline in student performance across the country, showing scores at historic lows following the pandemic.
According to the report, nearly 80% of high school seniors are not proficient in math, and almost two-thirds struggle with reading. Even more concerning is that nearly half of seniors tested below basic levels in both subjects, which raises alarms as these students prepare to enter the workforce and higher education.
The results mark the first national assessment since 2019, showing that despite billions of dollars in federal spending, achievement gaps continue to grow.
The White House shared the results in a press release, finding them “devastating” and warning that the current approach is failing to meet the students’ needs.
In response to the findings, President Donald Trump (R) and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have emphasized shifting control of education funding and decision-making to states, local communities, and parents. The Trump administration is calling for reforms that prioritize early literacy, ensuring students can read proficiently by third grade, and for developing problem-solving skills that are needed for a modern economy.
In a statement, Secretary McMahon noted that “the lesson is clear,” commenting that “success isn’t about how much money we spend, but who controls the money and where that money is invested.” “That’s why President Trump and I are committed to returning control of education to the states so they can innovate and meet each school and students’ unique needs.”
Florida’s top education officials have echoed the secretary’s remarks, calling on the Department of Education to close.
“I firmly support President Trump’s belief that the U.S. Department of Education should be abolished and the job of educating students should rest solely with the states,” Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. (R) wrote to acting Education Department Secretary Denise Carter earlier this year.
