Higher percentages of White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander fourth-graders performed at or above Basic in 2011 than in 1990, but apparent differences in comparison to 2009 were not statistically significant. Higher percentages of White and Hispanic fourth-graders performed at or above Proficient in 2011 than in any of the previous assessment years.
Beginning in 2011, additional information on students’ race/ethnicity was collected from schools so that results could be reported separately for Asian students, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students, and students categorized as being two or more races (multiracial). These categorizations are consistent with guidelines from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. In order to allow comparisons of 2011 results for racial/ethnic groups to previous assessments, the Asian and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students are combined into a single Asian/Pacific Islander category. Read more about this change.