National Achievement-Level Results
Overall NAEP Achievement Levels
Lower percentage of fourth-grade students at or above NAEP Proficient than in 2019
In 2022, thirty-six percent of fourth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level on the mathematics assessment, which was 5 percentage points lower compared to 2019 and was 24 percentage points higher than the percentage in 1990, the first assessment year. Seventy-five percent of fourth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Basic level in mathematics, which was 5 percentage points lower than in 2019 and 25 percentage points higher than in 1990.
NAEP achievement levels are performance standards that describe what students should know and be able to do. Results are reported as percentages of students performing at or above three achievement levels (NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced). Students performing at or above the NAEP Proficient level on NAEP assessments demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter. It should be noted that the NAEP Proficient achievement level does not represent grade-level proficiency as determined by other assessment standards (e.g., state or district assessments). NAEP achievement levels are to be used on a trial basis and should be interpreted and used with caution. Find out more about the NAEP mathematics achievement levels.
Scroll down to explore NAEP achievement-level results for student groups.
The chart below lists the percentages of fourth-grade students performing at each of the NAEP mathematics achievement levels in 2022 and previous assessment years. Set the baseline at either NAEP Basic or NAEP Proficient to see the percentages of students performing at or above that NAEP achievement level. Click "Show NAEP achievement-level breakdown" to see the percentages of fourth-grade students at each of the NAEP achievement levels. Click "Hide NAEP achievement-level breakdown" to see the percentages of students at or above the selected baseline NAEP achievement level. Use the slider to change focal years.
NAEP Achievement Levels by Student Group
Lower percentages of fourth-grade students at or above NAEP Proficient for most student groups than in 2019
In 2022, the percentages of fourth-grade students who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in mathematics were lower for most reported student groups compared to 2019, the previous assessment year. For example, compared to 2019, the percentages of students who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level were lower for the following student groups:
- Asian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, students of Two or More Races, and White students;
- male and female students;
- students who were eligible and not eligible for the National School Lunch Program
- students attending public schools;
- students attending public, noncharter schools;
- students attending city, suburban, town, and rural schools;
- students attending schools in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West regions;
- students who were not identified as students with disabilities
- students who were not identified as English learners
The chart below lists the percentages of fourth-grade students performing at each of the NAEP mathematics achievement levels in 2022 and previous assessment years. Set the baseline at either NAEP Basic or NAEP Proficient to see the percentages of students performing at or above that NAEP achievement level. Click "Show NAEP achievement-level breakdown" to see the percentages of fourth-grade students at each of the NAEP achievement levels. Click "Hide NAEP achievement-level breakdown" to see the percentages of students at or above the selected baseline NAEP achievement level. Use the slider to change focal years.