Have you ever looked around the classroom at your peers and wondered … are we getting dumber?
Recent evidence shows that yes, we are, in fact, getting dumber.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), has found that over the last decade, scores on math and reading assessments have decreased seven points in reading and fourteen in math on average.
But scores are only the beginning.
The achievement gaps across the United States have grown wider. This means that while the higher-achieving students may continue to improve, lower achieving students are only doing worse.
Furthermore, The National Literacy Institute reported that 54% of American adults read below a sixth grade level, and in schools, 40% of students are not reading at their expected grade level.
So, why is this happening?
No child left behind
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law was introduced by President George W. Bush in 2002 in an attempt to close the achievement gap for minority groups in schools K-12.
NCLB had some success in bringing scores up, especially in math, but it was controversial as it fell short in closing the achievement gap and had negative impacts on schools.
In 2012, President Barack Obama announced that waivers would be given to schools so they would not have to follow NCLB regulations. Following Obama’s decision to waive NCLB in 2012, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) math assessment scores revealed a significant decrease in both high and low performing students.
The pandemic
Following school closures during Covid-19, scores plummeted.
When students returned to full-time school by the fall of 2021, there was a lot of catching up to do. But most children did not catch up — at least not fast enough to make up for the halt in their education.
A Harvard research study found that “In 2023-24, the gap between pre- and post-Covid test score averages widened by an average of 36% in reading and 18% in math,”
Attention spans
In addition to the learning deficit brought on by Covid-19, the impact of technology usage on students has also become a source of concern.
Dr. Gloria Mark, professor at the University of California at Irvine, reported that in 2004, her team found the average attention span to be two and a half minutes, but by 2012, it had decreased to around 75 seconds.
Social media plays a significant role in this drop in attention.
The immediate gratification that comes with social media is a result of a dopamine feedback loop. Since our brains are able to get immediate and constant dopamine hits from social media, we crave it more and more over time.
Brainrotting
If you’re less than twenty five years old, you’ve probably heard of the term brainrot.
Brainrotting is a cognitive decline or “brain fog” due to continuous “doom scrolling” and consumption of mindless social media and repetitive short-form content.
The most recent data shows the average screen time for teenagers (aged 13-18) is seven hours and 22 minutes.
Social media content caters to maximum stimulation and immediate gratification rather than quality. Short form content especially not only caters to the dopamine-feedback loop, but it also is much more addictive and mindless.
The results of lessening attention spans and lack of critical thinking can be seen in streaming platforms such as Netflix that cater to viewers distracted by their phones while watching. This is called second-screen viewing and has been blamed for the “dumbing down” of modern visual media.
Younger generations are already seeing a decrease in school performance, which is then exacerbated by the rise of social media addiction. The impact of this decline can extend into adulthood and higher education.
College professors have voiced concern about even the top students being unable to finish multiple books in a semester.
Some argue that this lack of literature is not to blame for the decreasing academic performance in students, but rather a result of students being unable to read long-form texts. With laws such as NCLB and an education system that places emphasis on standardized tests, reading is not a priority for schools and students anymore.
This trend continues into adulthood — four in ten Americans did not read a single book in 2025.
Reading is more than just learning — it develops creativity, critical thinking and is a way to stimulate your brain without screens. But many believe reading will not prepare a student to work a 9-5 job, which is the increasing focus of young adults.
Why are we the way we are?
Are people dumber as a result of the education system and lowering standards? Or are students losing motivation and drive?
I know when I look around the room, I do think we’re collectively dumber.
But I also think I am surrounded by extremely capable peers who think outside the box and overcome even the hardest challenges. Many of us are talking about things our parents never talked about and attempting to undo problems of previous generations. So, how dumb can we really be?
Now, go and read a book. It’s good for you.
What is your average screen time, and have you read a book outside of school this year? Let us know in the comments!
