Mathematics: Student Experiences

NAEP survey questionnaire responses provide additional information for understanding NAEP performance results. The results highlighted below are for computer availability at home (age 9) and mathematics coursetaking (age 13).

NAEP is not designed to identify the causes of performance differences. Therefore, results must be interpreted with caution. There are many factors that may influence average student achievement, including local educational policies and practices, the quality of teachers, and available resources. Such factors may change over time and vary among student groups.

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Computer use at home

Lower percentage of 9-year-olds reported having a computer at home to use compared to 2012

The current question on the long-term trend (LTT) student questionnaire: "Is there a computer at home that you use?" has been asked of 9-year-olds since 2004. The LTT questionnaire did not ask about specific technologies such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

Seventy-four percent of 9-year-old students in 2020 reported having a computer at home to use, compared to 88 percent in 2012.

Figure | Trend in percentages of 9-year-old students in NAEP long-term trend mathematics, by whether students have a computer at home to use
YearHave a computer at home to useDon't have a computer at home to use
2020  
2012  
2008  
2004  
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2020
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Compared to their lower-performing peers, higher-performing 9-year-old students more likely to report having a computer at home to use 

In 2020, compared to 9-year-olds performing below the 25th percentile, a higher percentage of 9-year-olds performing at or above the 75th percentile reported that they had a computer at home to use.

Figure | Percentage of 9-year-old students in NAEP long-term trend mathematics, by whether students have a computer at home to use and by percentiles: 2020
Whether students have a computer at home to useStudents below 25th percentileStudents at or above 75th percentile
Have a computer at home to use66*%81%
Don't have a computer at home to use34*%19%
* Significantly different (p < .05) from students performing at or above the 75th percentile.

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