Utah student assessment results show conflicting academic trends

Recent data regarding student performance in Utah presents conflicting perspectives on academic trends. According to the Utah State Board of Education, 2025–2026 statewide assessment results show accelerating recovery in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics following pandemic-related disruptions. Science proficiency reached 49.8 percent, marking the first core subject to exceed pre-pandemic achievement levels.

Conversely, neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath points to a downturn in National Assessment of Educational Progress testing for fourth- and eighth-graders. Horvath argues that the decline in reading and math scores coincides with the increased implementation of digital infrastructure and computer-adaptive testing in schools. He suggests a correlation between increased screen time in classrooms and lower standardized test scores, noting that current generations are struggling to outperform their predecessors in cognitive capabilities.