Middle School Reading Scores Decline for Lowest-Performing Students, NWEA Study Finds

Why it matters locally: Tennessee's public education system, including schools within Davidson County and Shelby County, will likely need to review these national findings as they consider local strategies to address reading proficiency among middle school students, particularly those struggling the most.

BOSTON, August 4, 2026 – A recent study by NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, found that reading performance for middle school students in the lowest scoring percentiles has continued to decline. The organization released its findings today, indicating that these scores have not recovered to pre-2020 levels. The study examined middle school reading outcomes and identified state policy efforts that show promise in improving these results. Researchers noted that the drop in scores particularly affected students in the 1st through 20th percentiles for reading proficiency. NWEA published its analysis to provide data on educational recovery trends. The organization focuses on K-12 assessment and research to inform educational practices.