In this feature, student reporter Emma Benvenuto examines the growing emphasis on standardized testing and academic benchmarks in schools, and the impact this shift has on student experience, access to career and technical education, and perceptions of success, told through perspectives from current and former students and supported by education research and policy reporting. 

In recent years, students have increasingly been measured by standardized benchmarks set by school systems, raising concerns about how education defines success. Many schools are expanding Advanced Placement offerings while reducing access to career and technical education programs, signaling a shift away from career exploration toward academic metrics.

Educators and students alike say this focus on testing performance has created an environment where high scores are prioritized over personal growth and skill development. At the same time, federal policy decisions have added to these challenges. 

According to an Education Week report, more than 700 Department of Education grants were revoked during the second Trump administration, reducing funding for a wider range of academic opportunities.

Beyond the classroom, social media has emerged as another factor influencing student well-being and self-perception. 

Former student Lauren Bonner described its impact, saying, “Social media is a huge part of identifying my self-worth, feeling a sense of always needing to look and act like everyone else.”

Research supports these concerns. 

A 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health found that social media-related fear of missing out, defined as the “pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent,” is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and neuroticism.

Harrison High School student Heather Rodger said the emphasis on performance metrics overlooks important aspects of student development. 

“We are meant to live through experiences that build us, that evoke passion within us,” she said. “None of that is seen through a number.”

As schools continue to prioritize measurable outcomes, students and educators are questioning whether current systems leave enough room for individuality, creativity, and long-term success beyond test scores.