Theme Scores
In addition to the overall composite average scale score, NAEP U.S. history results are also reported for the subscale average scores by the four historical themes: Change and Continuity in American Democracy (Democracy); The Gathering and Interactions of Peoples, Cultures, and Ideas (Culture); Economic and Technological Changes and Their Relationship to Society, Ideas, and the Environment (Technology); and The Changing Role of America in the World (World Role). The NAEP U.S. history framework provides the basis for constructing subscales in U.S. history. The subscales are combined into a composite scale used to describe the overall attainment of students in U.S. history. Because subscales were developed separately for each theme, comparisons cannot be made from one subscale to another. Learn more about what the U.S. history themes measured.
Average Scores by Theme
Lower average scores for eighth-grade students across all four U.S. history themes compared to 2018
In comparison to 2018, the average U.S. history score in 2022 for eighth-grade students was 5 points lower in the Democracy theme. Compared to 2018, average U.S. history scores in 2022, in both the Culture and Technology themes, decreased by 5 points and were lower than all previous assessment years going back to 1994 for both themes. In 2022, average scores were 3 points lower in the World Role theme compared to 2018.
In comparison to 1994, the average U.S. history score in 2022 for eighth-grade students was 3 points higher in the Democracy theme and was 5 points higher in the World Role theme.
Figure Trend in eighth-grade NAEP U.S. history average Democracy theme scores
Percentile Scores by Theme
Lower average scores for lower- and middle-performing students across all four U.S. history themes compared to 2018
NAEP scores are reported at five selected percentiles to show the progress made by lower-performing (10th and 25th percentiles), middle-performing (50th percentile), and higher-performing (75th and 90th percentiles) students.
In 2022, scores decreased for lower- and middle-performing eighth-grade students across all four U.S. history themes compared to 2018. Scores decreased for higher-performing students at the 75th and 90th percentiles in the Culture theme and decreased for higher-performing students at the 75th percentile in the Technology theme compared to 2018.
In comparison to 1994, there were some changes in average U.S. history theme scores at the percentile level in 2022 as follows:
- Scores increased in the Democracy theme for middle- and higher-performing students.
- Scores decreased in the Culture theme for lower-performing students at the 25th percentile and for middle- and higher-performing students.
- Scores decreased in the Technology theme across all five selected percentiles.
- Scores increased in the World Role theme across all five selected percentiles.
Scroll down to explore U.S. history theme scores by student groups below.
Figure Trend in eighth-grade NAEP U.S. history Democracy theme scores at five selected percentiles
Student Group Theme Scores
Dig deeper into the results for the U.S. history themes
In 2022, average scores in U.S. history decreased for many reported student groups in the Democracy, Culture, and Technology themes while average scores did not significantly change for most student groups in the World Role theme. For example, in 2022, average U.S. history theme scores were lower than in 2018 for reported racial/ethnic groups as follows:
- in the Democracy theme for Black, Hispanic, and White students;
- in the Culture theme for Hispanic students, students of Two or More Races, and White students;
- in the Technology theme for Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic students; students of Two or More Races, and White students; and
- in the World Role theme for students of Two or More Races.
In 2022, average U.S. history theme scores by gender showed that scores were lower in the Democracy, Culture, and Technology themes for both male and female students and were lower in the World Role theme for female students in comparison to 2018.
Use the drop-down menus to select a U.S. history theme and student groups to explore the average score and score gap results by themes for the selected student groups by race/ethnicity, gender, eligibility for the National School Lunch Program, parental education level, type of school, charter school, school location, region of the country, status as students with disabilities, and status as English learners.