These tests are administered nationally to fourth and eighth graders every two years, and are used to compare educational progress between states.
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The math skills of US fourth- and eighth-graders declined for the first time since 1990, the results of a test released Wednesday by the Department of Education indicated.
But it was the boys in Massachusetts who scored the highest in the nation (253) on NAEP’s fourth grade math tests, beating the national average (240) by more than ten points.
In grade four reading, 42 percent of Pennsylvania students scored proficient as compared with the national average of 35 percent.
New numbers show math scores for fourth and eighth graders have slipped over the last two years, but Mississippi is seeing substantial gains.
“Although overall results are favorable, it is important to recognize that Wyoming experiences gaps in achievement that are similar to gaps recognized in the national results”, said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow.
There were no changes in the achievement gaps in eighth-grade reading.
Meanwhile, 47 percent of the state’s fourth-graders reached or exceeded proficiency in math, compared to 39 percent nationally. “We are trying not to read too much into a decline at this point”. In math, fourth graders showed no growth or decline in the last four years, holding steady at 43 percent.
Scores for black students were not reported. Oregon’s average score was statistically on par with scores in 23 other states, higher than scores in eight states and lower than 20.
This year, Wyoming’s scores were above national averages in all areas. The Washington, DC-based nonprofit advocates closing achievement gaps between disadvantaged students and their peers.
Reacting to the scores, Chris Minnich, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, said one year’s worth of data shouldn’t send the nation’s schools and teachers off in a different direction.
Among white eighth-graders, 44 percent scored proficient or above in math. Just 16 percent of black and 25 percent of Hispanic eighth-graders reached that level. “In the midst of this, declining scores should not be a surprise, as many states have seen on their own state assessments scores”, she said.
“We still have progress that we want to make, particularly fourth-grade reading is a concern to us”, Haslam said.
The nation’s report card was released Wednesday. Students are tested on standards that differ in both content and sequencing from those assessed by Maryland’s state tests.
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The score gap between certain students remains about the same.
