Reading proficiency declines among middle schoolers and NYC students

New data indicates a continuing decline in reading proficiency among certain student demographics. A study by NWEA, analyzing scores from over 20 million K-8 students, reveals that while many public school students have recovered from pandemic-era learning losses, the lowest-achieving middle schoolers have seen their reading scores continue to drop significantly since 2017.

Experts suggest that while K-3 literacy reforms have been successful, there is a lack of equivalent systemic support for students in grades 4-8. This gap in instruction, curriculum, and educator preparation for older elementary and middle school students may be preventing those with persistent reading difficulties from catching up.

In New York City, recent state reading exams for grades 3-5 also showed a decline. Third graders saw a nearly 14% drop, while fifth graders declined by 13%. This dip occurred following the implementation of the ‘NYC Reads’ program. While some advocates suggest the decline may reflect changes in state assessment methods rather than actual student learning, others are calling for a refocus on science-based reading curricula and professional development for educators.