Student Math Scores are Plummeting - What can we do?
By James Leonard
December 22, 2022
Have you seen the latest data surrounding children’s math scores? It is pretty abysmal, but that’s why we’re here - to help you learn the facts and to give your child the resources to excel far beyond the average level.
What does the data say about U.S. Math Scores?
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” who recently released their data for math in grades 4 and 8, this is the “largest decline in NAEP mathematics… since initial assessments in 1990.” All across the country, it is consistent: students are scoring lower in mathematics.
The average math score for fourth graders is down 5 points from where it was in 2019 before the pandemic. For eighth graders, the score has been lowered by 8 points since 2019. This means that before the pandemic, 34% of eighth graders were proficient in math, and now that number has dropped even lower, to 26%.
... And almost 40% of eighth graders failed to understand basic math concepts.
Why is this drop in math scores happening?
Most people are attributing this decline in math scores to the inconsistencies in learning that were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. They treat this data at face value, only comparing the differences to pre-pandemic 2019, to our current post-pandemic reality. However, when looking at the data a little deeper, we can see that some of these results are lower than they were in the 1990’s. Our schools are failing our children, and we need to do something about it immediately.
What can we do to help students improve in math (and other subjects)?
A solution many parents are turning to is to homeschool their student(s).
Here at BCE we offer advantages that public schools do not:
- Foundation. Students learn foundational principles and truly master them before moving on to the next concept. Having the proper foundation helps us to “build” a strong wall of education that has all of the necessary “bricks” in it, rather than building a wall full of holes and hoping it doesn’t crumble.
- Finding Gaps. At BCE we have a diagnostic test that enables us to assess your child at their current ability level by concept. We are able to identify gaps in their learning, and will tailor our PACE’s (a unit of academic work, read more about our PACE’s here.) to their individual needs.
- Flexibility. Students get to learn at their own pace, and can take the time they need to fully grasp the materials. They are not pressured to fit a math lesson into a short timeframe and can enjoy the learning process again without the added stress of time constraints.
How do I start homeschooling?
How do I start homeschooling?
First of all…don’t worry! We’ve taken the overwhelming guesswork out of homeschooling for you! We will work directly with you and your student(s) to come up with a learning approach that will be meaningful for your child’s specific needs, and stress-free for you! No need to worry about gathering resources, either - We will provide you with learning level-appropriate worktexts for your student(s) to utilize. If you’re interested in learning more about homeschooling or BCE, you can request a free catalog to read more about our approach.
Try a Quarter of BCE Academy
Better yet - try a quarter of our homeschool academy for just $275, which includes the diagnostic materials to see the true picture of what concepts your child has mastered in each subject.
We’ll do our best to get your child back on track and help them enjoy learning again - without extra work piled on your shoulders as the parent.
Keywords: math scores
