Performance by Student Groups

National Student Group Scores

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Lower twelfth-grade reading scores for 12 student groups compared to 2019

Average reading scores in 2024 were lower for twelfth-graders in the following student groups compared to 2019:

  • White students; 
  • female students;
  • students who were not identified as economically disadvantaged ;
  • students whose parents had some education after high school and students whose parents graduated from college;
  • students attending public schools;
  • students attending public, noncharter schools;
  • students attending schools in suburban locations;
  • students attending schools in the Midwest and South regions;
  • students who were not identified as students with disabilities ; and
  • students who were not identified as English learners .

For female students, public school students, and students attending noncharter public schools, scores declined for lower-, middle-, and higher-performing students in 2024 compared to 2019.

For one of the student groups, reading scores declined overall and for students performing at all selected percentiles except the 90th: students who were not identified as students with disabilities.

Of the two regions with overall score declines, scores were lower in the South only for the lowest-performing students at the 10th percentile, and scores in the Midwest were lower only for the highest-performing students at the 90th percentile in 2024 compared to 2019.

To see trends in average scores and in scores at the 25th and 75th percentiles by selected student groups, select the comparison years and click on the student group label below.

Use the NAEP Data Explorer to see scores at five selected percentiles (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th) for all reported student groups.

2024
2019
Figure Changes in twelfth-grade NAEP reading average and selected percentile scores between 2019 and 2024, by selected student groups
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NOTE: The results for Type of School presented in this report are for Catholic schools (a subcategory of private schools) and public schools. In 2024, results for private schools overall and Catholic schools did not meet the minimum participation rate guideline for reporting and therefore are not presented in the graphic. See more information about assessment years with available data by type of school and other student demographic groups. Beginning with the 2024 assessment, the variable previously reported as “National School Lunch Program (NSLP) eligibility” is relabeled as economically disadvantaged status. See the About page for more information.

National Student Group Score Distributions

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The NAEP average scale score indicates overall student group performance, while the score distribution indicates the range of scale scores within a student group. NAEP assessment results show a wide distribution of scores within most student groups. Comparisons of score distributions between student groups can show the high degree of overlap in performance, even between groups with significant average score differences.

For example, the chart below shows the distribution of scores along the NAEP reading scale for twelfth-grade students who were identified as having high, middle, and low socioeconomic status (SES), as measured using the three-category NAEP SES Index. Looking at the distribution of reading scores by students’ SES index categories shows the following:

  • A larger percentage of students who were identified as having high SES scored above the average score for all students compared to students who were identified as having middle or low SES.
  • A larger percentage of students who were identified as having middle SES scored above the average score for all students compared to students who were identified as having low SES.

Use the drop-down menu below to view the percentage distribution of scores along the NAEP reading scale for selected student groups.

NAEP SES index (3 components)
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Figure Score distribution in twelfth-grade NAEP reading by NAEP SES index (3 components): 2024

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Percentage of students scoring at each 10 scale-point interval
National average score for all students
#Rounds to zero.

Group Population Percentages

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Compared to the last grade 12 assessment in 2019, there have been changes in the percentages of twelfth-grade students for a few student groups. For example, in 2024, the percentage of White students decreased, and the percentage of Hispanic students increased. The percentage of students who were identified as English learners was higher in 2024 compared to 2019 as was the percentage of twelfth-graders who were identified as economically disadvantaged.

Select a student group from the drop-down menu to view changes in the percentage of students for that group over time at the national level.

Race/ethnicity
Table Percentage distribution of students in twelfth-grade NAEP reading, by race/ethnicity and assessment year
YearAmerican Indian/​Alaska NativeAsianAsian/​Pacific IslanderBlackHispanicNative Hawaiian/​Other Pacific IslanderTwo or More RacesWhite
2024        
2019        
2015        
2013        
2009        
2005        
2002        
1998        
1998¹        
1994¹        
1992¹        
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NOTE: The results presented in the table are weighted percentages based on the representative sample of students who participated in the NAEP reading assessments.
2024