Challenges in Assessing Children’s Academic Performance

In the United States, nearly 90% of parents believe their children are performing at or above grade level in reading and math. However, many are mistaken. Actual proficiency rates for eighth graders stand at 30% in reading and 28% in math, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The disparity between grades and test scores is especially noticeable in schools with higher numbers of low-income students, as highlighted by a study conducted in 2023.

This discrepancy has worsened over the past 15 years due to an increase in grade inflation. From 2010 to 2022, the average high school grade-point average rose significantly, particularly in math, increasing from 3.02 to 3.32.

Standardized testing, which serves as an independent measure of school performance, faces challenges. Federal law requires annual standardized testing in math and reading for grades three through eight. However, some states have lowered the scores needed to be considered ‘proficient,’ leading to paper gains unreflective of real classroom performance.

For example, after Wisconsin revamped its assessment, English proficiency increased to 48% from 39%. Illinois and Kansas have also revised their assessments. In over half the states, proficiency rates on state reading tests exceed national testing rates by 15 percentage points or more, with some states showing much larger gaps.

The federal government’s role has compounded the issue. In 2025, the Trump administration weakened the Education Department, which manages national testing. Although there are reports of efforts to rebuild the agency, some assessments have already been reduced.