National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported last month that the 2019 test scores across the assessments given to fourth, eighth and 12th graders were down or flat compared to that of 2015. 

The NAEP is often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card. Data from the 2019 round of assessments show declines in test scores were mainly driven by students achieving at the lowest levels. Nationally, here are the topline take-aways:

Stagnated

• Eighth students had the same average scores as those grades did in 2015.
• For 12th graders, the scores showed no change over 2015 or 2009 scores.

Dropped

• Fourth-graders dropped three points in average scores, going from 154 in 2015 to 151 in 2019.
• Lower-performing fourth-graders saw their scores drop in all three content areas (science, reading, math) compared to 2015.
• The lowest-performing students in fourth and eighth grades saw their scores drop compared to 2015.

Proficiency

• Around a third of fourth and eighth-graders were considered proficient
• For fourth grade, the percentage of students scoring at or above proficient dropped. Similarly, the percentage of fourth-grade students scoring below the basic level of competency increased compared to 2015.
• Under a quarter of 12th graders were at or above proficient

NC Specific Information

The following information is taken directly from the stat summary on the NAEP website.

Math overall

Nine jurisdictions performed higher than NC, 24 were not significantly different than NC, and 19 performed significantly lower than NC. The state landed near the bottom of the top 20 for math.

4th GRADE-SPECIFIC

Math

In 2019, the average score of fourth-grade students in North Carolina was 241. This was not significantly different from the average score of 240 for public school students in the nation.

The average score for students in North Carolina in 2019 (241) was not significantly different from their average score in 2017 (241) and was higher than their average score in 2000 (230).

In 2019, the average score of fourth-grade students in North Carolina was 241. This was not significantly different from the average score of 240 for public school students in the nation.

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 41 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (42 percent) and was greater than that in 2000 (25 percent).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 82 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (81 percent) and was greater than that in 2000 (73 percent).

Reading

In 2019, the average score of fourth-grade students in North Carolina was 221. This was not significantly different from the average score of 219 for public school students in the nation.

The average score for students in North Carolina in 2019 (221) was not significantly different from their average score in 2017 (224) 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 36 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (39 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 67 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (69 percent) and was greater than that in 1998 (58 percent).

Science and Writing

In 2015, the average score of fourth-grade students in North Carolina was 154. This was not significantly different from the average score of 153 for public school students in the nation.

The average score for students in North Carolina in 2015 (154) was higher than their average score in 2009 (148)

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 36 percent in 2015. This percentage was not significantly different from the nation (37 percent).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 76 percent in 2015. This percentage was not significantly different from the nation (75 percent).

8TH GRADE-SPECIFIC

Math
In 2019, the average score of eighth-grade students in North Carolina was 284. This was higher than the average score of 281 for public school students in the nation.

The average score for students in North Carolina in 2019 (284) was not significantly different from their average score in 2017 (282) and was higher than their average score in 2000 (276).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 37 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (35 percent) and was greater than that in 2000 (27 percent).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 71 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (68 percent) and was greater than that in 2000 (67 percent).

Reading
In 2019, the average score of eighth-grade students in North Carolina was 263. This was not significantly different from the average score of 262 for public school students in the nation.
The average score for students in North Carolina in 2019 (263) was not significantly different from their average score in 2017 (263) and in 1998 (262).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 33 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (33 percent) and in 1998 (30 percent).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 72 percent in 2019. This percentage was not significantly different from that in 2017 (74 percent) and in 1998 (74 percent).

Science
In 2015, the average score of eighth-grade students in North Carolina was 150. This was lower than the average score of 153 for public school students in the nation.
The average score for students in North Carolina in 2015 (150) was not significantly different from their average score in 2011 (148) and was higher than their average score in 2009 (144).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 31 percent in 2015. This percentage was not significantly different from the nation (33 percent).

The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 64 percent in 2015. This percentage was not significantly different from the nation (67 percent).

Writing
In 2007, the average scale score for eighth-grade students in North Carolina was 153. This was lower than their average score in 2002 (157) and was not significantly different from their average score in 1998 (150).