Which school years struggled the most after lockdown?

Reviews
1

Not trying to argue about Covid decisions here. We can probably all agree that the pandemic caused setbacks for kids at different ages. These struggles showed up in various ways depending on their development stage.

For example, my brother missed his final year of college. I think he’s less affected compared to kids who went through puberty stuck behind a screen. I’m currently teaching a tough group of 9th graders, and it’s got me thinking… which school years seem to show the biggest issues now? And how are those issues showing up?

2

I think all age groups struggled, but differently. I would say Birth-1st grade suffered academically, but grades 3-7 struggled the most emotionally and socially.

3

zane said:
I think all age groups struggled, but differently. I would say Birth-1st grade suffered academically, but grades 3-7 struggled the most emotionally and socially.

You’re saying a baby or toddler during lockdown suffered academically? How does that work?

4

@Noah
Kids learn constantly at that age. If parents were busy working or helping older siblings and didn’t have time to engage, that could impact early development.

Kindergarten teachers I know are saying kids are coming in with delayed speech and still in diapers—not most, but it’s noticeable. COVID definitely affected those early years, too.

5

@zane
I run a tutoring company, and this is the first year I’ve seen grade ones not knowing alphabetical order or mixing up numbers and letters. COVID babies definitely feel the effects now.

The group I saw hit hardest here was boys in grade three during the pandemic. That’s when they were about to get intensive reading help, but then schools shut down. By grade five, many couldn’t decode words, but luckily, they caught up quickly with tutoring. It’s the ones with deeper issues who still struggle today.

6

@zane
That’s really interesting.

7

Noah said:
@zane
That’s really interesting.

Yeah, I worked in preschool for a while. It was shocking how many kids weren’t potty trained, way more than usual.

8

LAUREE said:
I think 13th grade was hit hard. Transitioning between high school and college during COVID was heartbreaking.

That sounds rough. College was some of the best months of my life. High school graduation wasn’t that exciting, though. You didn’t miss much there.

9

zane said:
I think all age groups struggled, but differently. I would say Birth-1st grade suffered academically, but grades 3-7 struggled the most emotionally and socially.

It’s hard to imagine how a 1-4 year old would have a “disastrous” education during lockdown. Sounds funny to me.

10

@Gia
My current 3rd graders are a mess. I’m not sure if it’s the pandemic, iPads, or both. They really struggle with self-help skills and perseverance.

11

Andrian said:
@Gia
My current 3rd graders are a mess. I’m not sure if it’s the pandemic, iPads, or both. They really struggle with self-help skills and perseverance.

Probably their parents. A lot of adults weren’t coping well either during that time.

12

@Gia
We think of school as learning math or reading, but for preschoolers, it’s about learning to “human.” They pick up emotional regulation, social rules, and general life skills. Missing that time puts them behind when they need those skills later for academics.

For example, sitting still and paying attention helps you learn multiplication tables, but it’s not something you’re born knowing.

13

@Scofield
Exactly. If your family was engaged and present, you were probably fine, but a huge percentage of families just couldn’t give that level of support during COVID. Those kids fell behind.

14

@Gia
Without preschool or early interventions, kids missed out on basic social development. If no one noticed a delay, the parents couldn’t address it.

15

zane said:
I think all age groups struggled, but differently. I would say Birth-1st grade suffered academically, but grades 3-7 struggled the most emotionally and socially.

Interesting thoughts. I always assumed middle school kids had the hardest time.

16

The 6th graders in March 2020 lost a lot socially. By the time they reached 8th grade, antisocial behaviors were rampant. I’m worried about how they’ll do in high school and beyond.

17

BookwormBard said:
The 6th graders in March 2020 lost a lot socially. By the time they reached 8th grade, antisocial behaviors were rampant. I’m worried about how they’ll do in high school and beyond.

Can you elaborate?

18

@Chester
Sure. Middle school is critical for social growth. Kids shift from seeking validation from adults to peers or themselves. This transition—6th to 7th grade—happened during lockdown.

We gave them Chromebooks and hotspots, which let them access school but also pushed them deeper into isolation. Combine that with emotional and social distancing, and it’s no surprise that schools feel so different now. The kids and adults went through a lot, and everything has changed.

19

From what I’ve seen, it was the kids who missed transition years—5th/6th graders entering middle school and 8th/9th graders entering high school.

Older students also struggled more than we think. Missing high school graduations or first years of college were big losses for them.

20

@LearningLeader1
My son’s school stayed closed his entire 9th grade. It messed him up socially. He graduated last year and has a job, but he won’t drive. I don’t understand it.

My younger son missed kindergarten but is now thriving in 4th grade, academically and socially.