September 29, 2025

U.S. High School Students Are Struggling — Here’s What We Can Do About It

U.S. High School Students Are Struggling

 

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat this: the latest test scores are rough. According to the Wall Street Journal, American high school seniors just posted their lowest math and reading scores in recent history. We’re talking 35% proficient in reading, 22% in math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). That’s… not great.

I see this stuff every day at Tutor Portland. Kids come in frustrated, parents come in worried, and honestly? These numbers don’t surprise me anymore. But here’s the thing—standardized tests aren’t everything, but they do tell us something important about where students are struggling.

Why This Actually Matters

These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are real kids getting ready to graduate into a world that’s only getting more complex. When students leave high school without solid reading comprehension or problem-solving skills, it affects everything—college readiness, job prospects, even just their confidence in handling everyday challenges.
Lesley Muldoon, who oversees the NAEP exams, said it pretty plainly: “Students are taking their next steps in life with fewer skills and less knowledge in core academics than their predecessors a decade ago.” And yeah, that’s a problem.

What the Test Scores Show

Here’s what’s interesting: it’s not that students can’t do any of the work. They’re hitting some marks but struggling when things get more complex.

In reading: About two-thirds of seniors could identify the purpose of a persuasive essay, but only one in five could actually pull out a conclusion that’s supported by the text.

In math: Around 60% could calculate population from size and density, but less than half could take a real-world problem and turn it into an algebraic expression.

 

So kids can handle the basics—but when you ask them to apply that knowledge or reason one step further, a lot of them hit a wall. And the students who were already behind? They’ve fallen even further back.

The Bigger Picture

This didn’t start with COVID, even though the pandemic definitely made things worse. Scores had been slipping for years. Schools are dealing with chronic absenteeism, constant distractions, teacher burnout, and the endless pull of phones and social media. All of it adds up.

And honestly, this isn’t just happening here. Countries around the world are seeing similar drops, which tells me we’re dealing with something bigger—maybe it’s technology, maybe it’s how we’re all living now, but something’s shifted.

Where Tutoring Actually Helps

This is where I see real opportunity. One-on-one support can fill gaps that classrooms—through no fault of teachers—just can’t always reach. Here’s what actually works:

Customized learning: Every kid’s different. Some need visual examples, some need stories, others need to physically work through problems. We build the plan around the student, not some one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Building confidence: Most kids aren’t “bad at math” or “can’t read”—they just haven’t had someone explain it in a way that clicks for them. Once they start to get it? Their whole attitude changes.

Consistency over cramming: Two solid sessions a week for a few months beats last-minute test prep every single time. Learning doesn’t happen overnight. At the end of the day, this isn’t about “passing tests.” It’s about giving kids the tools to think critically, solve problems, and feel capable.

What Parents Can Do Right Now

Check in early. Ask your kid what’s actually hard for them. Not in a judgmental way—just listen. Their insight is gold.
Find the right fit. Even the best tutor won’t help if your kid doesn’t connect with them. Personality matters as much as credentials.

Focus on skills, not scores. Reading comprehension, problem-solving, logical reasoning—these are the skills that’ll matter long after the SAT is done. Celebrate small wins. When your kid says “I think I actually get this now,” that’s huge. Way more important than any test score.

Here’s the Thing

The NAEP results aren’t just data points—they’re a wake-up call. Students need more support, parents need better guidance, and schools need more resources. There’s no magic bullet, but personalized learning and good tutoring can make a real difference.

I see it constantly: kids who thought they were hopeless at math or reading suddenly figuring out concepts they never understood before. That confidence spreads to everything else—academics, sure, but also how they see themselves and what they think they’re capable of. If you’re worried about where your kid stands, it’s not too late. Starting now can change everything—not just their test scores, but how they approach learning and problem-solving for the rest of their lives.

Want to talk about where your student could use some support? Reach out to us at Tutor Portland—we’d love to help.