NWEA: Middle school STEM gender gap returns, widens post-pandemic

NWEAA new report drawing from three assessments has found the gender gap in middle school STEM assessment scores has reopened over the past four years, erasing decades of slow progress in raising the achievement of girls to be level with that of boys nationally.

The new report from NWEA, the K-12 assessment and research organization, “Boys regain the advantage in middle school STEM skills: Post-COVID trends in gender achievement gaps,” used a robust set of data from three national assessments: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS), the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and NWEA’s MAP Growth. 

NWEA researchers examined trends in gender gaps in 8th grade over the course of the pandemic. The study also analyzed MAP Growth data from approximately two million U.S. students to see if the gender gap widened for both low- and high-achieving students. The final part of the analysis looked at 8th-grade Algebra enrollment across 1,300 U.S. public schools to determine if participation rates differed by gender throughout the pandemic.

Key findings included:

• Girls’ STEM achievement declined more than boys’ between 2021 and 2024, reversing decades of progress in closing gender gaps in these subjects. This decline was not seen in reading scores.
• Similar patterns were observed in other English-speaking countries (Australia, England, New Zealand) and on state-level assessments in the U.S.
• Gender gaps widened after a return to in-person school. The gaps became more pronounced after 2022.
• Fewer girls are enrolling in 8th-grade Algebra, a gateway course to more advanced mathematics and STEM fields.

“Our goal in providing this analysis is to shed light on concerning trends and the potential long-term impact if these gaps are not addressed. The data doesn’t tell us why these gaps were widened, and more understanding and research are needed to provide our education community with insights on how best to address this moving forward," said Dr. Megan Kuhfeld, Director of Growth Modeling and Data Analytics at NWEA.

One trend that could have long-term impacts on STEM pathways for girls is the decline in girls enrolling in 8th-grade Algebra. This course is a gateway to higher-level mathematics and is a key step in future college and career opportunities in STEM fields. The study found enrollment rates in 2022 had dropped for both boys and girls, but boys’ enrollment rebounded to 2019 levels by the 2024 school year, while girls’ enrollment remained two percentage points lower than before COVID-19 hit.

This new research study underscores that the pandemic was not an equal opportunity hitter and disruptions to learning impacted some student groups more than others.

Access the full report on the NWEA website.