Student achievement declines despite rising graduation rates

(The Center Square) – High school graduation rates have increased while student achievement across K-12 public schools has declined, raising concerns among education experts about academic standards and long-term readiness. Nationwide, only about one-third of students meet proficiency benchmarks in reading, the National Assessment Governing Board reported. Since 2019, reading scores for fourth and eighth grade students have dropped by an average of five points, according to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. While fourth-grade math scores have shown slight improvement since 2022, they remained three points below pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Twelfth-grade reading scores declined by three points since 2019, with just 35% of students performing at or above the proficient level, according to NAEP data. At the same time, graduation rates have steadily increased. The U.S. average graduatio