8th Grade History, Civics Scores Drop Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Students and parents arrive masked for the first day of the school year at Grant Elementary School in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Average U.S. history and civics test scores have dropped among eighth graders compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The 2022 findings from the NAEP, dubbed “The Nation’s Report Card,” were released on May 3, revealing a five-point drop in U.S. history scores and a two-point drop—the first ever—in civics scores since 2018.

The civics scores were on par with those recorded in 1998, when they were first included in the assessment. The U.S. history scores, however, marked a nine-point plunge since 2014 and were one point lower than those first recorded in 1994.

In addition to an increasing lack of historical awareness, the findings indicate that more students are struggling to understand how the U.S. government functions and the importance of civic engagement.

For instance, according to the report, only 45 percent of students were able to correctly identify how a presidential candidate becomes president in a multiple-choice format.

The results also suggest a downward trend in academic scores across the board, given that average math and reading scores were also reported to have regressed in October 2022.

Pointing Fingers

Commenting on the findings on April 3, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona attributed the disappointing results to the effects of the pandemic and Republican education policies.

“The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress further affirms the profound impact the pandemic had on student learning in subjects beyond math and reading,” he said in a statement. “It tells us that now is not the time for politicians to try to extract double-digit cuts to education funding, nor is it the time to limit what students learn in U.S. history and civics classes.

“We need to provide every student with rich opportunities to learn about America’s history and understand the U.S. Constitution and how our system of government works. Banning history books and censoring educators from teaching these important subjects does our students a disservice and will move America in the wrong direction.”

In response to the report, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos wrote on Twitter: “The new data on students’ knowledge of history and civics is abysmal. There’s no other way to describe it. These are the lowest scores ever recorded.

“But perhaps even more abhorrent is [Cardona’s] shameless spin that the reason history scores are falling is because schools AREN’T teaching enough [critical race theory] and the 1619 Project—which aren’t based on historical facts.”

DeVos also denounced Cardona’s use of the pandemic as an excuse, noting that history scores have been on the decline since 2014.

“Today is yet another reminder we have a government-run, union-controlled, one-size-fits-NONE education system where supermajorities of kids aren’t proficient in reading, math, history or civics,” DeVos wrote.

“The need for #EducationFreedom couldn’t be any clearer or more urgent.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.