The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress broadly showed a continued decline in American academic performance five years after the lockdowns.

The biennial government report pointed to lower performance in reading among both fourth and eighth graders relative to the last assessment in 2022 and the pre-lockdown year of 2019, as well as moderate increases in math scores among higher performing percentiles relative to 2022.

Average reading scores for fourth and eighth graders were two points lower compared to the last assessment and five points lower than the assessment five years ago. The decline was most severe in the lowest percentile of students who took the exam for each grade level.

Average math scores for fourth grade students meanwhile rose two points relative to 2022, but remain three points lower than the last pre-lockdown scores recorded in 2019. Among eighth graders, there was no significant change relative to 2022, but scores remain eight points lower than in 2019. The lowest percentile of performers showed declines for both fourth and eighth graders.

The decision to shutter government schools five years ago provoked controversy among parents and policymakers, with many families turning to private schools or homeschooling.

Trump administration officials at the Department of Education issued a statement last week reacting to the scores, saying they “reveal a heartbreaking reality for American students and confirm our worst fears” and contending that the “education system continues to fail students.”

“Not only did most students not recover from pandemic-related learning loss, but those students who were the most behind and needed the most support have fallen even further,” the statement said. “The Trump administration is committed to reorienting our education system to fully empower states, to prioritize meaningful learning, and provide universal access to high-quality instruction.”