America's 13-year-olds have made no measurable progress in maths or reading since 2023, with current scores remaining significantly lower than those recorded before the pandemic, according to new federal data released on 10 June 2026.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress long-term trend results show a stark generational divide. Nine-year-olds posted gains of four points in both maths and reading compared to 2022, a development federal officials attributed to this cohort entering school largely after pandemic-era closures had ended. Thirteen-year-olds, whose foundational learning years coincided directly with COVID-19 disruptions, recorded no measurable improvement in either subject since the last assessment and continue to trail their pre-pandemic predecessors in both disciplines.
