Teens Report Widespread AI Use in Schoolwork as Test Scores Decline

A substantial majority of teenagers are utilizing artificial intelligence for their schoolwork, a trend that appears to be linked to a decline in academic performance, according to a recent survey.

AI Integration in Education

The survey by Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute found that 70% of teens aged 13 to 17 reported using AI tools for homework and classroom assignments. Of these, 63% admitted to using AI primarily to obtain answers quickly. A smaller group, 35%, indicated they use AI to refine or improve answers they have already formulated.

One 15-year-old from Pennsylvania shared with The Wall Street Journal that relying on AI for schoolwork negatively impacted his ability to think critically. He described his algebra test scores dropping significantly, leading him to fail his final exam despite previously earning mostly B's.

This surge in AI use among students occurs as Google actively promotes its Gemini AI tool for use on school-issued Chromebooks, which are now prevalent in American classrooms. Data suggests that 93% of schools plan to purchase Chromebook laptops this year, with Google's ChromeOS serving over 38 million K-12 students globally. In 2025, education accounted for more than 60% of the global Chromebook market share.

Declining Test Scores

The findings on AI usage coincide with a broader trend of declining student test scores worldwide. Data released earlier this year revealed historic drops in both national and global test scores across subjects like math and reading comprehension. The Program for International Student Assessment, a large comparative education survey, reported that student scores in 2025 fell to their lowest point in 25 years. Additional data from the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford showed that reading scores have declined in 83% of U.S. school districts, while math scores have dropped in 70%, irrespective of socioeconomic or racial demographics.

Teacher and Expert Concerns

Educators have expressed concern over the impact of AI on critical thinking and learning. Kaitlyn Ruano, an Advanced Placement Art History teacher in Miami, noted a significant drop in test scores among her students, including those who had previously achieved high grades. Some students admitted to relying heavily on AI throughout the year, struggling with material when AI was unavailable.

Yvette Renteria, chief program officer at Common Sense Media, stated that AI use can undermine the core principles of teaching, such as fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and dialogue. She suggested that widespread adult use of AI may normalize its use among young people, leading them to believe it is acceptable and safe.

Even within Google, researchers have acknowledged the potential risks AI poses to children, particularly their difficulty in distinguishing between human interaction and AI chatbots. Former Google research scientist Mikel Rodriguez cautioned about the potential cognitive and emotional impact on an entire generation, stating that the long-term consequences of this widespread experimentation are uncertain.

A Google spokesperson, however, asserted that AI tools, when integrated with teacher-led instruction, can enhance learning. "Teachers around the world use our technology every day because it solves real classroom challenges and helps improve learning outcomes," she told The Wall Street Journal.