FARGO — U.S. history scores hit an all-time low among eighth graders, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress
The report showed about 40% of eighth graders scored below the basic level in U.S. history NAEP assessment in 2022, the lowest since the assessment began in 1994.
Depending on schools, social studies competes against English language arts, science and math.
North Dakota United President Nick Archuleta said it can be a difficult topic to teach of how deep it can get. In addition, he said there is not enough time for more testing in schools.
"We take the NWA test across the state and we have the state assessment later on. We do an awful a lot of test prep. What we need and what teachers will tell you, is we need more time just to teach," Archuleta said.
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If it wasn't for the COVID-19 pandemic and enough time for teaching history courses, he said school districts would not be busy balancing instructional time and testing.
He said the staff at North Dakota public schools do their best in succeeding in all parts of schooling. Instead of testing for the history portion of the NAEP assessment, North Dakota schools make it a requirement for students to take the state's civics exam to graduate high school.
Archuleta encourages students to start preparing now for the civic test, because it will prepare them for society too.
Test questions can be found here: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/assessment/north-dakota-civics-test
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