NAEP Reading: National Average Scores

National Average Scores

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Overall Score Results

Lower average reading score for fourth-graders than in 2019

The average reading score for fourth-grade students in 2022 was 3 points lower compared to 2019, the previous assessment year. The 2022 average score was not significantly different compared to the first reading assessment in 1992. Average scores are reported on the NAEP reading scale that ranges from 0 to 500.

The chart below shows the trend in average reading scores beginning in 1992 and the cut scores indicating the lower end of the score range for each NAEP achievement level: NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced. Read a description of each NAEP achievement level by clicking the question mark icons. Read more about how NAEP achievement levels are set. Please note, NAEP achievement levels are to be used on a trial basis and should be interpreted and used with caution.

Figure Trend in fourth-grade NAEP reading average scores

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Scores By Percentile

Lower scores at all selected percentiles except the 90th percentile compared to 2019

NAEP scores are reported at five selected percentiles to show the progress made by lower- (10th and 25th percentiles), middle- (50th percentile), and higher- (75th and 90th percentiles) performing students. In comparison to 2019, the 2022 reading scores were lower for fourth-grade students at the 10th, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles; only the score for highest-performing students at the 90th percentile did not differ significantly from 2019.

In comparison to 1992, however, the pattern is different. The reading score for fourth-grade students at the 10th percentile was lower in 2022 compared to 1992. Scores for fourth-graders at the 25th and 50th percentiles were not significantly different from 1992. Scores for higher-performing students at the 75th and 90th percentiles were higher in 2022 compared to 1992.

Figure Trend in fourth-grade NAEP reading scores at five selected percentiles

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Legend

Click on a data point or key for more details. Click again to return to the overview for all categories.

Related to this topic

National Achievement-Level Results

Next page: National Student Group Scores and Score Gaps

NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 assessment, NAEP reading results at grades 4 and 8 are from a digitally based assessment; prior to 2017, results were from a paper-and-pencil-based assessment for grades 4 and 8. In 2019, the digitally based NAEP reading assessment at grade 12 was administered for the first time. The 2019 grade 12 reading report includes results from students who took the digitally based assessment and students who took the paper-based assessment. For more information, see the About page. The NAEP reading scale ranges from 0 to 500. Accommodations were not permitted in NAEP reading assessments prior to 1998. Although the estimates (e.g., average scores or percentages) are shown as rounded numbers, the positions of the data points in the graphics are based on the unrounded numbers. Unrounded numbers were used for calculating the differences between the estimates, and for the statistical comparison test when the estimates were compared to each other. Not all apparent differences between estimates are statistically significant.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1992–2022 Reading Assessments.