The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Academic Growth in 2020–2021

Published December 2021

Data indicates that the cognitive, social-emotional, and behavioral well-being of students have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines differences in the rate of growth for a group of students during the 2020–2021 school year compared to the rate of growth for a group of students pre-COVID. A nuanced picture emerges when looking at scale score changes in relation to initial grade-level placements, school-level demographic characteristics, neighborhood income levels, and school locale.