American students scored 14 points lower in reading compared to three years ago, while the gap between the nation’s highest and lowest performers now exceeds every other developed country measured in a new international assessment.

Alarming International Test Results

The 2025 Program for International Assessment examined over 700,000 students across roughly 90 education systems worldwide. American 15-year-olds demonstrated declining performance, with the achievement gap between students in the 90th percentile and 10th percentile marking the largest disparity among participating nations. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development administers this internationally recognized exam every three years to measure student performance across developed nations.

Acting Commissioner Matthew Soldner from the National Center for Education Statistics confirmed the performance gap between higher and lower achieving American students has expanded significantly over the past decade. The results align with separate 2024 data showing worsening reading scores among fourth and eighth graders on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly called the nation’s report card.

Education Leaders Demand System Overhaul

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the international scores confirmation of a “decade of stagnation and a devastating gap” facing American students. She characterized the moment as a critical test for the nation’s future, demanding a complete system reset that empowers state leaders and embraces innovative learning options through school choice. McMahon announced plans to sunset the Department of Education, stating the system is failing students and decision-making should return to parents, teachers, and local leaders.

Kevin Huffman, CEO of education nonprofit Accelerate and former Tennessee education commissioner, warned the disturbing trend will worsen without state-level accountability. He expressed concern that adequate performance among top students might reduce urgency among those who should push for educational improvement across all achievement levels. The interrupted instruction most students experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing gaps between highest and lowest performers.

Push for Evidence-Based Reading Instruction

National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues urged Congress to pass the Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development Act, federal legislation focused on evidence-based reading instruction. The READ Act, introduced by Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, emphasizes implementation and intervention through the science of reading approach. Rodrigues stressed that America cannot lead globally in innovation, science, technology, or economic growth without providing every child fundamental literacy skills necessary for success in an increasingly competitive world.