The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores for 2017 were released earlier this week.  The NAEP is also referred to as the ‘nation’s report card’ and is considered the ‘gold standard’ of standardized testing for the United States.

North Carolina’s scores were less than positive overall and 4th-grade math scores took a statistically significant a three-point nosedive.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction put out some spin in their newsletter announcing the results. We are holding “steady.”

During 2017, North Carolina as in its sixth year of using the Common Core State Standards for reading and math.

We were told Common Core was a magic bullet. Test scores were supposed to skyrocket, angels were supposed to weep and our kids were supposed to become super-geniuses.

Can we now finally admit Common Core is a dud?

Not yet.  Remember what our nation’s Common Core Overlord said?

“It would be great if our education stuff worked, but that we won’t know for probably a decade.” – Bill Gates, September 21, 2013.

The Scores

Only 42% of NC 4th Graders were found to be at or above the proficiency level in Math.

North Carolina’s overall 4th-grade math score was 241, that’s two points above the national average, which also dropped from the previous reported year (2015).

Minorities Still Struggling

NC 4th Grade math showed continued race gaps.

• “Black students had an average score that was 26 points lower than that for White students. “
• “Hispanic students had an average score that was 16 points lower than that for White students.”

NC 8th Grade math race gaps are worse than 4th grade.

• “Black students had an average score that was 37 points lower than that for White students.”
• “Hispanic students had an average score that was 23 points lower than that for White students.”

Reading Results Slightly Better

From 2015 to 2017, 4th graders jumped up 2 points but NAEP proficiency only bumped up one point from 38% to 39% – both of which are appalling numbers.

Here are the summary points for 4th-grade reading scores:

• In 2017, the average score of fourth-grade students in NorthCarolina was 224. This was higher than the average score of 221 for public school students in the nation.
• The average score for students in North Carolina in 2017 (224)was not significantly different from their average score in 2015(226) and was higher than their average score in 1998 (213).
• The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 39 percent in 2017. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2015 (38 percent) and was greater than that in 1998 (27 percent).
• The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 69 percent in 2017. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2015 (73 percent) and was greater than that in 1998 (58 percent).

For 8th grade, there was also a 2 point bump up but the overall score was still below the national average. The proficiency levels were worse than the 4th graders with only 33% reaching NAEP proficiency level.

Here are the 8th-grade results:

• In 2017, the average score of eighth-grade students in NorthCarolina was 263. This was lower than the average score of 265 for public school students in the nation.
• The average score for students in North Carolina in 2017 (263)was not significantly different from their average score in 2015(261) and in 1998 (262).
• The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 33 percent in 2017. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2015 (30 percent) and in 1998 (30 percent).
• The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 74 percent in 2017. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2015 (72 percent) and in 1998 (74 percent).