readingInformation About the 2005 Reading Assessment
reading: summary
reading: national trends
reading: state comparisons
reading: national student groups
reading: sample questions
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mathematics: summary
mathematics: national trends
mathematics: state comparisons
mathematics: national student groups
mathematics: sample questions
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Average Scale Scores and Achievement-Level Results in Reading by Race/Ethnicity

  • In 2005, at both grades 4 and 8, White and Asian/Pacific Islander students scored higher, on average, than Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students. Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native students scored higher, on average, than Black students.
  • In 2005, White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander fourth-graders had higher average scores and higher percentages of students performing at or above Basic than in 1992. Also, average scores for Black and Hispanic fourth-graders increased between 2003 and 2005.
  • White, Black, and Hispanic eighth-graders had higher average scores and higher percentages of students at or above Basic in 2005 than in 1992, but White eighth-graders had a lower average score and a lower percentage at or above Basic in 2005 than in 2003.
Average scale scores in reading, by race/ethnicity, grade 4: Various years, 1992–2005

* Significantly different from 2005.
1 Sample sizes were insufficient to permit reliable estimates for Asian/Pacific Islander students in 1998 (accommodations permitted sample).
2 Sample sizes were insufficient to permit reliable estimates for American Indian/Alaska Native students in 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2000.
NOTE: The dashed and solid lines represent results based on administrations when accommodations were not permitted and when accommodations were permitted, respectively. View complete data with standard errors for grade 4.


Learn more about the NAEP reporting groups on the NAEP website.

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