# Young Students Show Reading and Math Gains After Pandemic Slump
Nine-year-olds across the United States made measurable progress in reading and math, reversing years of declining test scores, according to recent data. The improvement marks a significant turnaround from pandemic-era setbacks that devastated older students' academic performance.
The results come from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the federal government's primary measure of student achievement. NAEP tracks performance in reading and math across grade levels nationwide.
Fourth graders, who were largely unaffected by extended school closures due to their younger age, demonstrated gains in both subjects. The progress represents recovery from 2020-2022 declines when remote learning disrupted classroom instruction for millions of students.
The picture differs sharply for 13-year-olds. Eighth graders experienced ongoing learning loss, with scores remaining flat or declining in some cases. These older students bore the brunt of pandemic disruptions, as many spent extended periods in remote learning environments during critical developmental years.
The gains among younger elementary students suggest that in-person instruction, combined with focused intervention efforts over the past two years, can restore learning momentum. Districts invested in targeted tutoring, extended school days, and remedial programs to address pandemic learning gaps.
However, the divergence by age reveals an uneven recovery. Younger students' relative resilience reflects their shorter disruption periods and potentially greater adaptability. Older adolescents, who faced prolonged virtual learning during middle school transitions, show slower improvement despite similar intervention investments.
Schools continue grappling with persistent challenges. Teacher shortages limit capacity for individual attention. Students with disabilities and those from lower-income families experienced disproportionate setbacks and show slower recovery rates. Reading proficiency remains particularly stubborn, with many students still below pre-pandemic benchmarks.
The gains in young readers and mathematicians