COVID classroom disruption leads to decline in middle school math proficiency scores

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic broke out, leading the majority of Americans to isolate in hopes of avoiding contracting the disease. This isolation also caused schools to shut down and then turn to online schooling for most of the following school year. This change has made it harder for students to learn and absorb information, especially for individuals with learning disabilities or language barriers. Years later, after the return to in-person instruction, students are struggling to understand topics taught to them during their year of online learning. 

Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School senior Cella Shanley didn’t have a smooth transition from virtual to in-person learning. “My adjustment back to in-person learning was rough. I went from a smooth sophomore year to a full AP course load, and the time away from school along with the fast pace of the curriculum did not benefit my transition,” Shanley said.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has recently issued its first school report card since the onset of the pandemic. According to the findings, students in Montgomery County have not achieved the academic performance goals set for all levels of education. 

One of the most severe proficiency rates was for math. The math proficiency level of middle school students in MCPS has dropped from 42.5% in 2019 to less than 23% in 2022. Furthermore, the academic achievement rate of underrepresented communities has decreased, with the math proficiency level of Hispanic and Latine middle school students falling from 18.7% to 7% and that of Black middle school students falling from 22% to 9.6%.

According to The New York Times, the struggle to adjust back to in-person learning was nationwide. In a recent test administered by schools, it was discovered that middle school student math proficiency scores had dropped from 34% to 26%. Additionally, elementary school students also experienced a score decline, with proficiency now at 36% from its previous 41%. After the multiple transitions students had to make throughout the span of the pandemic, learning processes have been scrambled, leading to greater confusion and a need for clarification. 

Walter Johnson High School senior Jannah Bilker said, “I feel like the transition back was very overstimulating for many students. I remember feeling overwhelmed for the first few months after we returned to in-person classes.”

Math scores weren’t the only subject affected by the time away from the classroom. In addition, writing and reading scores both suffered declines among elementary and middle schoolers. Students and young people are more vulnerable to the negative effects of change.  According to Psychology Today, young children are less adaptable to change, and often struggle more than a high school student or adult would. 

Although there aren’t many ways to re-learn the curriculum taught online, there are many ways to make the transition between online and in-person learning easier for students. Even just making sure teacher and student communication is strong can be key to a student’s success in school. Additionally, lining up the curriculum and giving students a plan can be beneficial to a student’s learning. 

Written by Maddie Leff of Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School

Photo Courtesy of Flickr