NAEP Report Card: Reading

Lower fourth-grade reading scores for many student groups compared to 2022

Average reading scores in 2024 were lower for the following student groups compared to 2022:

For five of these student groups with lower average scores, scores declined for both lower-performing students at the 25th percentile and for higher-performing students at the 75th percentile compared to 2022: male students, students attending schools in suburban locations, students who were not identified as students with disabilities, students who were identified as English learners, and students who were not identified as English learners.

For six of the student groups, reading scores declined overall and for lower-performing students at the 25th percentile compared to 2022: White students, students of Two or more races, students attending public schools, students attending schools in rural locations, students attending schools in the South region, and students who were not identified as economically disadvantaged.

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.

The Type of School results below include data for public schools and Catholic schools (a subcategory of private schools). In 2024, results for private schools overall did not meet the minimum participation rate guideline for reporting and therefore are not included here. Catholic schools, however, met the minimum participation rate guideline for inclusion in reporting in 2024. See more information about years with available data by type of school and other student demographic groups.

Beginning with the 2024 assessment, the variable previously reported as “NSLP eligibility” is relabeled as economically disadvantaged status. See the About page for more information.

Scores decline for only a few student groups across states/jurisdictions compared to 2022

Across states/jurisdictions in 2024, scores declined for a few student groups in comparison to 2022. For example, patterns in average score changes between 2022 and 2024 by race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status were as follows:

Use the drop-down menu to select a student group, focal year, and comparison year to see the change in average scores between selected years for the selected student group in each state/jurisdiction. Click on a state/jurisdiction in the map to see the trend in average reading score and scores at the 25th and 75th percentiles for fourth-grade public school students in the selected state/jurisdiction. 

Most districts see no score changes for student groups compared to 2022

Among the 25 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) districts that participated in 2022 and 2024, average reading scores for grade 4 public school students declined in 2024 for the following student groups:

Although the majority of districts saw no score change between 2022 and 2024 for student groups, average reading scores for grade 4 public school students increased in 2024 for:

Use the drop-down menu to select a student group, focal year, and comparison year to see the change in average score between selected years for the selected student group in each TUDA district. Click on a district name in the map to see the trend in average reading score and scores at the 25th and 75th percentiles for fourth-grade public school students in the selected district. Please note, trend results are not available for Orange County, Florida, as 2024 is the first year for that district’s participation in the NAEP reading assessment.

While the NAEP average scale score serves as a reliable indicator of student group performance overall, student group score distributions indicate the range of scale scores within student groups. NAEP assessment results show that within most student groups there is a wide distribution of score. Comparison of score distributions between student groups can also show the high degree of overlap in performance between groups, even among groups with significant average score differences.

For example, the chart below shows the distribution of scores along the NAEP reading scale for fourth-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:

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

Demographic changes in student populations

Compared to the previous assessment year in 2022, there have been changes in the percentages of fourth-grade students for a few student groups. For example, in 2024, the percentages of fourth-grade students who were identified as students with disabilities was higher, as was the percentage of students who were identified as economically disadvantaged.

Click on a jurisdiction type to see the percentage of students nationally or within a selected state or large urban district. 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, state, or district level.