Average Scores and Percentiles
Average Scores and Percentiles
Figure Trend in NAEP long-term trend reading average and selected percentile scores for 9‑year‑old students
NOTE: The NAEP long-term trend reading scale ranges from 0 to 500. Results for 1971–99 are from the original assessment format, and results for 2004–25 are from the revised assessment format. See more information about the two assessment formats and the 2004 Bridge Study. Results are not shown for data points where the sample sizes are insufficient to permit a reliable estimate or where data are not available. Although the estimates (e.g., average scores or percentages) are shown as rounded numbers in the charts, the positions of the data points in the graphics are based on the unrounded numbers. Unrounded numbers were used for calculating the differences between the estimates, and for the statistical comparison test when the estimates were compared to each other. Not all apparent differences between estimates are statistically significant.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1971–2025 Long-Term Trend Reading Assessments.
Average and percentile scores are reported on the NAEP long-term trend reading scale that ranges from 0 to 500. The results for five selected percentiles show score trends for lower- (10th and 25th percentiles), middle- (50th percentile), and higher- (75th and 90th percentiles) performing students.
To see trends in average score and percentile results, see the chart below. Use the radio buttons to show either average scores or median scores (i.e., scores at the 50th percentile).