Reading Scores Fall Among U.S. High School Seniors

The average reading score for United States high school seniors declined by two points between 2015 and 2019. The average score remained unchanged in math during this time. The lowest performing seniors in the U.S. saw their average scores drop in both subjects.

Reading performance is reported as average scores on a scale of 0 to 500 and by achievement levels. In 2019, 12-grade students had an average reading score of 285, which was lower than the average score in 2015 (287) and 1992 (292). Compared to 1992, reading scores in 2019 improved only for the very highest . . .