Younger students have regained academic ground lost during the pandemic, but older students' test scores remain stagnant. That's according to the latest testing data released Wednesday by the federal government. The report shows 9-year-olds have returned to pre-pandemic reading levels and improved in math. But scores for 13-year-olds in math and reading are still below pre-pandemic averages. Schools have focused on revamping elementary instruction, especially in reading, but experts say more attention is also needed for adolescents, especially middle schoolers. The national test has been given every four years since the 1970s. Students' scores peaked in 2012, then declined, corresponding with the rise of social media on cellphones.
