US reading scores hit near-25-year low in latest global assessment

Reading scores among 15-year-olds in the United States have fallen to their lowest level in approximately 25 years, according to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The decline of 14 points from 2022 reflects a broader international trend, but the U.S. showed a significantly wider inequality in reading scores, with 25.7% of students ranked as low performers.