PORTLAND, Ore. — New data from the Oregon Department of Education shows that many grade levels across the state are still far from pre-pandemic proficiency numbers in math and reading.
In the most recent testing, less than 43% of students were proficient in English. That's a slight decline from a year ago, and a large drop-off from 2018-19 results. Pre-pandemic, 53% of kids were grade level proficient in English.
Math scores also remain in a slump, although there was a slight uptick in proficiency scores from a year ago. In the 2023-24 school year, 31% of students were proficient in math. That was a drop of nearly 9% compared to the 2018-19 school year.
"Our numbers are not where they need to be," Gov. Tina Kotek said during a press conference Thursday. "The fact that our reading and writing numbers are so low, and some in some cases worse than pre-pandemic ... unacceptable."
In Portland Public Schools, the biggest school district in the state, numbers were a bit better. Math scores rose slightly from a year ago, while English scores stayed the same. Regardless, PPS administrators said more work needs to be done.
“I’m proud of the fact that our growth has remained steady," Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said. "I’m not proud of the fact that we’re still in a crisis.”
Just 46.4% of PPS students were proficient in math. Armstrong pointed to the legislature for more funding to ensure schools are able to improve.
"It's important that we take this conversation to Salem," Armstrong said, "and say that we need all of our funds to be directed in a way that's going to lift up the learners in our system."
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For months, Kotek has said more funding will be allocated to schools in the next biennium. On Thursday, she added that there will be more accountability as well.
"You're going to see a higher number on the state school fund in my budget. We will also be talking about greater accountability," Kotek said.
