Skip navigation

The Nation's Report Card


Long-Term Trend Overall Results Student Groups Mathematics Results Reading Results Gender Race/ethnicity Type of School Contextual Variables Sample Questions About the Assessment Information For… Media Parents Educators Researchers Policymakers Resources About the Nation's Report Card Data Tools FAQ Contacts
 

Average scores in reading for public school students increase in 2008

Age 9
 Age 13
 Age 17

Trend in NAEP reading average scores for 9-year-old students, by type of school

Findings

  • Compared to 2004, the average reading score for public school students at age 9 increased by 4 points.
  • The average reading score for private school students at age 9 increased compared to their score in 1980.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2008.
NOTE: Results are not available for 1971 and 1975. Participation rates fell below the required standard for reporting for 9-year-olds attending private schools in 2004. View complete data with standard errors for public and private schools, and catholic schools.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1980–2008 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.

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