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By Elizabeth Shockman

Newly released national data shows Minnesota student test scores have not risen significantly in math and reading over the last two years, although the state’s students continue to outperform national averages.

The National Assessment of Education Progress — known as the Nation’s Report Card — tests representative samples of fourth and eighth graders every two years in reading and math.

Results posted Wednesday showed average scores in fourth and eighth grade reading and math for Minnesota were not significantly different in 2024 than the last time students took the exams in 2022.

Less than half of Minnesota students were able to demonstrate proficiency in either math or reading in both fourth and eighth grade.

“What we’re seeing is that our students are still in recovery mode from the onset of the pandemic,” said Julio Caesar, executive director of research, evaluation and assessment at Bloomington Public Schools.

The scores on the national tests are similar to what state analysts have seen. Test data released in August from the state’s Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments showed K-12 math and reading scores largely unchanged since the COVID-19 era drop.

Caesar, though, said the lack of progress is disappointing.

“We have been doing a massive amount of work to ensure that our students are caught up from the onset of the pandemic … but we’re still behind,” Caesar said.

Minnesota’s eighth grade reading scores on the 2024 national test were particularly concerning, with 28 percent of students performing at or above the threshold federal officials consider proficient, down from 30 percent in 2022, and 36 percent in 1998.

Despite the concerns, Minnesota continued to outperform national averages in math and reading.

Minnesota eighth graders ranked fourth in the nation among states in math, and fourth graders were in the top 10.

“Other states are not doing as well as us, Caesar said. “So although we don’t see the significant changes that we would like to see, we are seeing that ranking-wise, we are doing much better than other states.”