America’s test scores are dropping

Every few years since the mid-1990s, the federal government has tested thousands of eighth-graders from all 50 states across several subjects. And yesterday, the Education Department published its 2022 results for US history and civics.

This was an especially big release. The results represent the first such data available to the public since the start of the Covid pandemic. And to be a hot dog frank – it doesn’t look too good.

• US History: Average US history scores came in at 258 out of a possible 500, or five points lower than in 2018. Overall, just 13% of eighth-graders met standards the Education Department considered to be “proficient,” down from a historical peak of 18% in 2014.
• Civics: On the civics side, the average score last year was 150 out of a possible 300. That’s down two points from 2018, marking the first-ever drop since testing began in 1998. Some 22% of eighth-graders scored at or above the level considered “proficient,” down from a record-high 24% four years prior.

📉 Big picture: The decline in test scores since the pandemic started isn’t just limited to US history and civics. In October, the Education Department published data showing the largest-ever decline in math scores among fourth- and eighth-graders in the US, along with a nationwide drop in reading scores that wiped out the previous three decades of gains.

+Bonus: Take a sample test in eighth-grade US history and civics here.

📊 Flash poll: The DONUT is being used across more than 20,000 classrooms on a consistent basis, so we wanted to include a question alongside this Speed Round:

What do YOU think is needed to get America’s children back on track in the classroom?

To respond, just click here. Please include your first name, last initial, and state of residence with your submission. The best responses will be published in tomorrow’s newsletter.