The Trump administration renewed its push to return control of education to the states after new data revealed continued declines in the reading, math, and science scores of high school seniors nationwide.
The National Center for Education Statistics released the “Nation’s Report Card” for 12th-grade students on Tuesday, finding that reading levels had reached new lows and math scores were the worst in 20 years. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said that the numbers confirmed a “devastating trend” of American students testing at “historic lows.”
“Despite billions in federal spending and countless well-intentioned programs, the achievement gap between students is widening, not shrinking. And this trend did not begin with COVID, it goes back a decade,” she said in a video message posted on X, noting that 78% of high school seniors were not proficient in math and another 65% were not proficient in reading in 2024.
“Clearly, success is not about how much money we spend, but who spends it. That’s why President Trump and I are committed to reversing course and returning control of education to the states so local communities with parents in the driver’s seat can better innovate, adapt, and tailor education to their students’ needs,” she said.
Today’s @NAEP_NCES 12th grade math and reading and 8th grade science scores confirm a devastating trend: American students are testing at historic lows.
Nearly HALF of America’s high school seniors are testing at below basic levels in math and reading. The status quo is… pic.twitter.com/FMxGX5cu66
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) September 9, 2025
The National Report Card is an ongoing assessment of what American students know about various subjects, providing a nationwide snapshot of trends and measuring student performance.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that the average reading score for 12th graders in 2024 was three points lower than in 2019 and 10 points lower than in 1992. For math, scores were down three points compared to 2019 and five points compared to 2019. Science scores for seniors also decreased by four points compared to 2019.
Educational achievement has also dropped for students in lower grades. In January, the statistics showed that around 70% of students in grades four and eight were not proficient in math or reading.
Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) said that the poor education numbers were endangering national security and would have economic consequences.
“Low academic skills don’t just hurt grades, they weaken our economy, workforce, and national security. Without strong foundations in these core subjects, America’s freedom and economic competitiveness will be in jeopardy,” he said. “Republicans and the Trump administration are prioritizing students — working to ensure every child gains the skills essential to be successful. This is crucial to America’s success.”
While moving to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department, the Trump administration has encouraged states to adopt school choice policies to allow parents to use state dollars to help cover tuition costs at private schools.