Study of 5 million students finds wide differences in recovery patterns, with just one in seven schools recovered in both subjects
BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, today released a new research report examining academic recovery patterns post-COVID. The new study, titled “From Loss to Recovery: Diverging Paths and Uneven Gains Across Schools,” used NWEA MAP Growth (a widely used assessment in U.S. schools) test scores from more than five million students across 9,326 U.S. public schools to identify where and how recovery is occurring. Three key findings emerged:- About 1 in 3 schools have recovered in either math or reading; only 1 in 7 schools have recovered in both subjects.
- While recovery was more common among schools with smaller initial declines, some schools rebounded after deep losses.
- Schools serving higher-poverty and historically marginalized students are less likely to be recovered, but they have made the largest gains since the pandemic.
- Tracking recovery trajectories at the state level by making recovery measures accessible and paired with information on schools’ recovery paths.
- Aligning supports with schools’ recovery trajectories so they continue to be targeted and aligned to the differing needs of schools, rather than uniformly applied across schools.
- Preparing for future crises, especially for schools that experienced larger pandemic-era declines. Now, before another crisis, policies that reduce instructional disruptions and protocols that support instructional continuity must be adopted.
- Prioritizing schools with the largest remaining gap so recent gains are sustained and progress toward recovery continues.
- Using realistic timelines and benchmarks for recovery that reflect schools’ initial pandemic-era declines and account for recent growth, while using tools such as NWEA’s MAP Growth Goal Explorer to monitor progress and set achievable goals.
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