Challenges in Understanding Children’s Academic Progress

Almost 90% of parents in the United States think their children are performing at or above grade level in reading and math. This perception is often incorrect. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows that only 30% of eighth graders are proficient in reading, and 28% are proficient in math.

The disparity between grades and test scores is especially evident in schools with higher numbers of low-income students, as shown in a 2023 study. Over the last 15 years, grade inflation has become more prevalent. From 2010 to 2022, average high school GPAs increased significantly, with math GPAs rising to 3.32 from 3.02.

Standardized testing, an independent measure of student performance, faces challenges. Federal law mandates annual standardized tests in math and reading for grades three through eight. However, several states have lowered the scores needed for a student to be considered ‘proficient’. This change has led to apparent improvements in proficiency rates on paper, without actual classroom improvement.

For example, Wisconsin revamped its assessment approach, increasing English proficiency from 39% to 48%. Illinois and Kansas have made similar changes. In over half of the states, state reading test proficiency rates exceed national test rates by 15 percentage points or more. In some states, this gap is even larger.

The federal government’s actions have compounded this issue. In 2025, the Trump administration made significant cuts to the Education Department, which administers national testing. Although there are reports of rebuilding efforts, certain assessments have already been reduced.