Overview

• The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress data reveals California's fourth and eighth graders continue to score below national averages in reading and math.
• Fourth-grade math scores showed slight improvement but remain below pre-pandemic levels, while eighth-grade math scores declined further.
• Reading scores for both grades fell again, with California students scoring nine points below the national average in 2024, compared to eight points in 2017.
• Disparities between high- and low-performing students have widened, with the lowest-performing students experiencing the steepest declines since 2019.
• Efforts to address the achievement gap include increased per-student spending, early literacy screening, and universal free lunches, but experts highlight the need to adopt evidence-based teaching methods like phonics.