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Progress in mathematics for male and female students varies by age
  • Age 9
  • Age 13
  • Age 17

Trend in NAEP mathematics average scores for 9-year-old students, by gender

Findings

  • At age 9, both male and female students scored higher in 2008 than in any previous assessment year.
  • The average score for male 9-year-olds in 2008 was not significantly different from that of their female counterparts.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2008.
NOTE: The lighter dashed lines for 1973 represent extrapolated data. View complete data with standard errors.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1973–2008 Long-Term Trend Mathematics Assessments.

Trend in NAEP mathematics average scores for 13-year-old students, by gender

Findings

  • At age 13, the average mathematics score for male students was higher in 2008 compared to 2004, but the score for female students was not significantly different.
  • The average scores for both male and female 13-year-olds were higher in 2008 than in 1973. 

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2008.
NOTE: The lighter dashed lines for 1973 represent extrapolated data. View complete data with standard errors.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1973–2008 Long-Term Trend Mathematics Assessments.

Trend in NAEP mathematics average scores for 17-year-old students, by gender

Finding

  • At age 17, the average scores for both male and female students in 2008 were not significantly different from their scores in 2004 or in 1973.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2008.
NOTE: The lighter dashed lines for 1973 represent extrapolated data. View complete data with standard errors.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1973–2008 Long-Term Trend Mathematics Assessments.

To read more details on comparisons across years, see About the Long-Term Trend Assessment.
To read more details related to student group categories, see NAEP Long-Term Trend Reporting Groups.

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2008 Long-Term Trend Report Card 2008 Long-Term Trend Report Card

National Assessment of Educational Progress, National Center for Education Statistics
National Assessment Governing Board
Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education