Alarm Raised as Literacy Rates Plummet Among Youth in the U.S.

National testing results reveal a troubling decline in literacy and math proficiency among young Americans. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds reading at the lowest literacy levels surged from 16% in 2017 to 25% in 2023. In many inner-city schools, less than half of students achieve grade-level proficiency in reading and math. Alarmingly, a significant number of high school graduates are unable to read their diplomas.

This educational crisis poses a substantial risk to the future economic prosperity of the United States, as argued by economist Stephen Moore. He emphasizes that the widening learning gap exacerbates income and wealth disparities. The response from educational authorities has been to lower academic standards rather than challenge students to excel. Reports indicate that some schools now allow students to study excerpts from classic literature rather than requiring the reading of entire novels.

A notable example is Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C., which boasts a reading proficiency rate of 80%, significantly higher than the district average of 38%. The school has announced a shift away from full-length novels in the eighth-grade English curriculum, replacing them with section readings. Educational leaders argue that this approach will better prepare students for high school, but critics contend it undermines the development of reading skills and comprehensive knowledge.

Moore questions the rationale behind this decision, asking how it benefits students to read only sections of classic works such as Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird instead of the complete texts. He likens the situation to instructing students to rely on CliffsNotes, traditionally regarded as a form of academic dishonesty. The implications are concerning; if students in top public schools cannot handle full-length novels, it raises questions about the challenges faced in less affluent schools.

This trend reflects a broader issue within government-run educational systems, where low expectations prevail. Strikingly, states like Louisiana and Mississippi have returned to foundational teaching methods, such as phonics, resulting in significant improvements in reading scores. These states are now outperforming more affluent regions in literacy.

Moore warns that Washington, D.C., will face the consequences of its educational policies, expressing hope that other schools do not follow the path of diluting educational standards. The ongoing decline in literacy among youth represents not only an educational crisis but also a potential economic one, with far-reaching implications for the future workforce.