Oregon students’ grasp of key subjects slowly grows, but still below pre-pandemic levels

Published 10:20 am Thursday, September 24, 2026 By Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle Results from the latest statewide assessment tests show student proficiency in reading, writing and math slowly inching up from pandemic lows. Oregon students continued to make small gains in key subjects over the last year but still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.

They’re also not keeping pace with many of their peers nationwide when it comes to reading and writing. The latest results from statewide assessment tests in English language arts, math and science show that across subjects, grades and districts, students tested at the end of the last school year were still about 8 percentage points behind pre-pandemic achievement levels.

First reported by Herald Pioneer.