US students’ knowledge of history, civics drops to new lows: report

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called “the nation’s report card,” proficiency in civics and history among U.S. eighth graders decreased in 2022 compared to 2018. NAEP released its findings Wednesday, May 3.

“Far too many of our students are struggling to understand and explain the importance of civic participation, how American government functions, and the historical significance of events,” National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy Carr said in a statement Wednesday. “These results are a national concern.”

The data on civics showed just 22% of eighth graders were proficient. Students’ average score dropped for the first time ever, down to a score comparable to 1998 when the civics assessment was first given.

Even fewer students were proficient in history, with only 13% scoring high enough. The average history score fell again, as it has been doing since 2014. It’s now below where it was when the history assessment was first given out in 1994.

“The overall average score decreases in 2022 compared to both 2018 and 2014 were reflected across all four historical themes,” NAEP said when highlighting its results. “Compared to the first U.S. history assessment in 1994, average scores in 2022 for the Democracy and World Role themes were higher while the 2022 average scores for the Culture and Technology themes were lower.”

The drops in history and civics proficiency follows drops in the nation’s reading and math scores reported in October of 2022. Those drops were fueled mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The data released Wednesday did not address recent political battles over what should be taught in school, including issues related to race and racism.