HEATHER L. SCHWARTZ, ROBERT BOZICK, MELISSA KAY DILIBERTI, SARAH OHLS
Students Lose Interest in Math
Findings from the American Youth Panel
S
tudents in the United States still have not recovered to pre–coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic math and reading levels. For example, the average math scores of 8th
graders in 2024, published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, were eight
points lower than in 2019 (The Nation’s Report Card, undated). Furthermore, the lowest-
performing students performed worse in 2024 than in 2022, after the pandemic dissipated (The
Nation’s Report Card, undated). Additionally, students are now absent from school at substantially
higher rates than before the COVID-19 pandemic, further complicating recovery efforts (Dee, 2024).
These trends raise urgent questions about the state of student engagement in the classroom
and areas in which policymakers and practitioners might be able to intervene. This report offers
one possible explanation for the slow post-pandemic recovery: Students are frequently bored with
math. To help inform possible solutions for math curriculum developers, school district leaders,
math teachers, and math specialists, this report presents new survey data on middle school and high
school students’ perceptions of their math class experiences. Although students experiencing bore-
dom is not unique to math, this core academic subject is our focus in this report and on which we
present new data on student attitudes.
This report is based on data from RAND’s newly established American Youth Panel (AYP).
The AYP is a probability sample–based panel of youths who regularly complete surveys via email
and text message about their attitudes, behaviors, experiences in school, and other issues affecting
their lives. At the time of this writing, the panel is made up of 1,138 youths ages 12 to 21, and we are
recruiting an additional 1,000 youths to join the panel in spring 2025.
When youths first enrolled in
the panel, they filled out a baseline
empanelment survey in which they
provided demographic and contact
information and answered a battery
of questions about their interest, con-
fidence, comprehension, supports,
and enjoyment in math (in summer
or fall 2024).
1
Following their empan-
elment, the youths were invited to
take their first full survey in fall 2024.
In total, 724 AYP members completed
KEY FINDINGS
■ About one-half of middle and high school students reported losing
interest during their math lessons about half or more of the time.
■ The students who are the most likely to maintain interest in math
are the same ones who comprehend math, feel supported in math,
are confident in their ability to do well in math, enjoy math, believe
in the need to learn math, and see themselves as a math person.
■ The students who are the most prone to disengage in math les-
sons want fewer online activities and more real-world applications
in their math classes.
Research Report
American Youth
RAND
