Math scores remain lower than a decade ago, signaling a brewing crisis
Federal testing data from 2025 shows U.S. math scores for 9- and 13-year-olds remain lower than a decade ago, with 13-year-olds showing no progress since 2023, raising concerns about future economic impact. Economists warn these trends could reduce lifetime earnings for current students by 8%, costing the U.S. $90 trillion by 2100, while limiting career opportunities in key industries like healthcare and technology.
New federal data released Wednesday reveals stagnant math scores among U.S. students, signaling a persistent educational crisis. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend test found that while 9-year-olds showed slight math improvement, 13-year-olds’ scores have remained flat since 2023—mirroring levels from the early 1970s for the lowest performers. Matthew Soldner, acting director of the Institute of Education Sciences, emphasized this decline predates the pandemic, complicating efforts to pinpoint causes. The results highlight a widening gap between reading and math performance. Nine-year-olds’ reading scores rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, rising from 215 to 218, but 13-year-olds’ scores in both subjects showed no meaningful improvement. Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the NAEP Governing Board, called the stagnation among older students ‘jarring,’ urging greater focus on middle school education. She noted that these students—now in high school or preparing to enter—may face limited career opportunities due to foundational skill deficits. Economists warn the long-term consequences could be severe. Eric Hanushek of Stanford’s Hoover Institution estimated today’s graduates may earn 8% less over their lifetimes than the Class of 2013, translating to a $90 trillion cumulative loss for the U.S. economy by 2100. Harvard and Dartmouth researchers previously projected that pandemic learning losses could cost 48 million public school students $900 billion in lifetime earnings. Courtney Brown of the Lumina Foundation added that weak math proficiency restricts access to high-demand fields like healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing, where basic math is essential. The data reflects a broader trend of declining math achievement since the mid-2010s, after a period of progress between 2000 and 2012. A recent Lumina-Gallup survey found over half of employers struggle to find candidates with adequate skills, further underscoring the stakes. Experts argue the stagnation demands urgent action, as the economic and global competitiveness risks grow with each passing year.
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