Black Schools Lead Nation in Post-Pandemic Learning Gains

Schools serving Black students are proving that comeback stories aren't just possible—they're happening right now.

A new study tracking 9,300 schools over five years reveals something remarkable: predominantly Black schools are making the fastest academic gains in America since the pandemic began. These same schools faced the longest closures and the steepest learning losses when COVID hit, yet they're now leading the recovery.

Dr. Emily Morton, lead research scientist at Northwest Evaluation Association, says the numbers tell a story of resilience. Her team compared standardized test scores from fall 2019 to fall 2024 to measure how schools have bounced back as institutions.

The study doesn't track individual students over time. Instead, it measures whether schools have regained their pre-pandemic performance levels with entirely new groups of kids each year.

Here's what makes the gains even more impressive: these schools are climbing from much further down. Urban schools serving Black students stayed closed longer because they were hit hardest when the virus first spread. That meant bigger learning gaps to overcome.

A historic investment made the difference. The federal government delivered $190 billion in emergency relief to schools nationwide—the largest federal education funding injection ever. Research shows this money directly improved Black students' test scores through tutoring, extended learning time, and additional staff.

The Bright Side

While only 13% of predominantly Black schools have fully recovered in both reading and math compared to 16% of majority-white schools, that gap tells only part of the story. The rate of improvement in Black schools is outpacing every other group.

These schools are showing what's possible when resources meet determination. Teachers, students, and families in these communities are working together to close gaps that existed long before COVID.

The challenge now is keeping that momentum alive. The emergency funding expired in September 2024, right when these test scores were collected.

Morton is clear about what comes next: sustained investment. "We need continued, accelerated growth in schools serving Black students to get back to where we were and then hopefully beyond," she says.

The progress proves these schools can thrive when given the resources they deserve.