In a step forward from pandemic-era learning setbacks, standardized test scores in the Los Angeles school system made gains in all tested grade levels in math and English, Supt. Alberto Carvalho announced on Tuesday, although a majority of students remain below the state's grade level standards. At this time, the L.A. results can't be evaluated in a broader context because the California Department of Education has not publicly released statewide scores from the 2024 spring semester testing. Yet the scores suggest Los Angeles students have begun rebounding from sharp pandemic lows, when campuses were closed for more than a year and students kept pace as best they could through remote learning. In English, districtwide proficiency increased from about 41% to 43% of students year over year.

They account for around one per cent of the population and much of their success has been put down to dedication and perseverance. But new studies are now challenging the notion that extremely intelligent children earn their achievements through hard work. Instead, they suggest that they may have a genetic advantage from birth, and that success is built on this early head-start. Johns Hopkins University in Maryland runs a talent programme for adolescents who scored in the top one per cent in maths and English. Alumni include Mark Zuckerburg (pictured).

Children who spend too much time watching television and playing video games may be damaging more than just their physical health. According to new research, it could also lead to lower grades in maths and English. A small study by a group of psychologists has found those who spent more time splitting their attention between various devices achieved lower test scores than those who did not. While constant switching attention between devices may be a growing trend, its affect on school performance and personality has not been well studied. Researchers at the University of Toronto looked at the effect of juggling multiple devices, such as watching television on while texting, on students' cognition, performance at school and personality.