D.C. student test scores saw big drop during pandemic - Axios Washington D.C.Log InLog InAxios Washington D.C. is an Axios company.

Big drop in D C student test scores during pandemic

Data: D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education; Chart: Simran Parwani/AxiosD.C. public school students’ scores in math and reading dropped significantly between 2019 and 2022, with the learning losses most pronounced among Black, Hispanic and at-risk students. Why it matters: The scores — which mirror a national trend — show the negative impact the pandemic has had on student achievement. The big picture: The assessments in math and reading/writing were taken by students in grades 3-12. Reading/writing proficiency dropped across all grades, but it was math proficiency that took the biggest hit. By the numbers: Only 19% of kids were proficient in math this year, down from 31% in 2019. Thirty-one percent were proficient in reading/writing, down from 37% in 2019. Zoom in: Disparities were particularly pronounced among students of color and at-risk students. Black and Hispanic/Latino students saw the largest declines in reading/writing proficiency. Math proficiency dropped by more than 10 percentage points across most race/ethnicity groups. At-risk students’ reading/writing scores declined by 6 percentage points, compared with a drop of 4.2 percentage points for non-at-risk students. In math, the drop for at-risk students was 10.2 percentage points and 9.8 percentage points for non-at-risk students. Zoom out: Nationally, elementary test scores in reading and math among public and private school students the pandemic. What’s next: D.C.’s state superintendent has launched an effort to reverse the trend, using $1 billion in federal stimulus funds. As part of the effort, a tutoring program that served nearly 2,200 students last school year is expected to be offered to 4,000 this year. Officials are also planning to launch a Family Resource Center for students with disabilities. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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