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Average reading scores for White, Black, and Hispanic 9-year-olds higher in 2008 than in all previous assessments
Scale Score
White – Black Gap
White – Hispanic Gap

Trend in NAEP reading average scores for 17-year-old students, by race/ethnicity

Findings

  • In 2008, the average reading score for White students at age 17 was higher than their scores in 2004 and 1971. 
  • The average reading score for Black students in 2008 was not significantly different from their score in 2004, but was higher than their score in 1971.
  • There was no significant change in average reading score for Hispanic 17-year-olds in 2008 compared to 2004, but their score was higher than in 1975.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2008.
NOTE: Black includes African American, and Hispanic includes Latino. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin. Results for the Hispanic race/ethnicity category in 1971 are not available. 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), various years, 1971–2008 Long-Term Trend Reading 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