Education Insights 2024-2025:
Learning Today, Leading
Tomorrow
Understanding the Realities of K-12 Learning with our Education Insights Report
Test scores and attendance rate data points dominate headlines, yet rarely do we have the opportunity to explore the drivers shaping these trends. This research provides meaningful insights from superintendents, teachers, parents, and students into the evolving landscape of education and its impact on student achievement and our learning communities.
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96% of teachers say that they are passionate about teaching.
96% of teachers say that they are passionate about teaching.
Nearly all teachers believe they make meaningful connections with students.
Nearly all teachers believe they make meaningful connections with students.
About 9 in 10 of students say they are motivated to learn new things, work hard in school, and care about good grades.
About 9 in 10 of students say they are motivated to learn new things, work hard in school, and care about good grades.
And Yet...
While these positive sentiments are encouraging educators face significant challenges.
While these positive sentiments are encouraging educators face significant challenges.
While these positive sentiments are encouraging educators face significant challenges.
Two-thirds of teachers feel that students exhibit a wider range in knowledge and skills compared to five years ago, reflecting persistent learning loss among many students.
46% of teachers say student engagement has declined compared to 2019.
Nearly every teacher wishes they had more time to meet each student’s learning needs.
Engagement • Personalization • Motivation
Engagement
Personalization
Motivation
The top three classroom challenges identified by teachers.
What do dedicated teachers need to motivate, engage, and support student learning effectively?
What do dedicated teachers need to motivate, engage, and support student learning effectively?
Data Suggests Educators Must:
Engage Students to Activate Learning
By focusing on curiosity and delivering relevant, appropriately challenging content, educators can engage students, ignite their motivation, and inspire persistence.
Stakeholders universally agree that curiosity is central to student learning.
Of students believe there are not enough opportunities to be curious in the classroom. 3/4 teachers agree.
Less than half of high school students say they are curious at school.
Superintendent Perspective
Nevada Department of Education, NV
Educator Perspective
Parent Perspective
Focus on Future Readiness
Teachers, parents, and students feel concerned about students’ preparedness for the future. Career exploration and 21st-century skill development is increasingly critical in a dynamic workforce.
Almost all district leaders, teachers, parents, and students rate life skills as very important.
Yet, only about 50% of students believe their school adequately teaches life skills.
Over two-thirds of students feel that their education is not evolving to meet workplace needs. Three out of four adults agree.
Superintendent Perspective
Ector County ISD, TX
Educator Perspective
Student Perspective
Meet Teachers & Students Where They Are
Providing more individualized, tailored support for teachers and students can increase confidence and improve outcomes.
Students say learning at their own pace would increase their likelihood to engage with lessons, feel empowered in school, and feel more prepared for the future.
Nearly all teachers believe adaptive learning would help students learn more effectively.
Educator Perspective
Roanoke City Public Schools, VA
Educator Perspective
Educator Perspective
About this Report
The 2024-2025 Education Insights Report: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow was developed in collaboration with researchers, analysts, and education practitioners. We extend our gratitude to over a thousand educators, parents, and students who contributed to this report through surveys, interviews, and discussions. Your insights have been invaluable to this endeavor.
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners.
The Harris Poll is a global public opinion, analytics, and market research consultancy that strives to reveal society's authentic values to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. With a global research reach of more than 90 countries, Harris offers advisory services across sectors to world leaders, CEOs, and business decision-makers with state-of-the-art analytics, real-time software services, and practitioners in marketing, reputation, customer experience, trends, futures, and thought leadership/research-for-public release, The Harris Poll translates shifting social sentiment into a competitive marketplace advantage. Harris is a Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) company.
Our Research
Survey data was collected by The Harris Poll, an industry-leading research organization, on behalf of Discovery Education in August 2024. It included 1,524 respondents across K-12 students, parents of K-12 students, and K-12 teachers and superintendents.
