National average reading scores of 4th- and 8th-graders were higher in 2007 than in 1992, by 4 and 3 points, respectively. However, the reading score of 12th-graders was 6 points lower in 2005 than in 1992.

The percentage of 4th-graders performing at or above the Basic achievement level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment was higher in 2007 than in 1992 (67 vs. 62 percent), as was the percentage performing at or above the Proficient achievement level (33 vs. 29 percent).¹ Percentages at both of these achievement levels were higher in 2007 than in 2005 (see table 12-1). The percentage of 8th-graders performing at or above Basic was higher in 2007 than in 1992 (74 vs. 69 percent), while there was no measurable difference in the percentage performing at or above Proficient. In 2007, the percentage of 8th-graders at or above Basic was higher than that in 2005, but the percentages at or above Proficient for these two years were not measurably different. The percentage of 12th-graders performing at or above Basic was lower in 2005² than in 1992 (73 vs. 80 percent), as was the percentage of 12th-graders performing at or above Proficient (35 vs. 40 percent).

Reported on a scale of 0 to 500, national average reading scores of 4th- and 8th-graders were higher in 2007 than in 1992, by 4 and 3 points, respectively (see table 12-2). These 2007 scores were higher than 2005 scores. The reading score of 12th-graders was 6 points lower in 2005 than in 1992. In the most recent assessment, females at each grade level outscored their male counterparts. For example, 12th-grade females scored 13 points higher than males in 2005. Average scores were higher in 2007 than in 1992 for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander 4th-graders (ranging from 6 to 16 points) and for White, Black, and Hispanic 8th-graders (ranging from 5 to 7 points), while scores were lower in 2005 than in 1992 for White, Black, and Hispanic 12th-graders (ranging from 5 to 7 points).

NAEP results also permit state-level comparisons of the abilities of 4th- and 8th-graders in public schools.³ The percentage of 4th-grade students performing at or above Basic was higher in 2007 than in 1992 in 24 of the 42 states that participated in both assessment years (see table 12-3). Of the 38 states that participated in the grade 8 assessment in both years, the percentage of students performing at or above Basic was higher in 2007 than in 1998 in 5 states and lower in 2007 than in 1998 in 7 states.

¹ Testing accommodations (e.g., extended time, small group testing) for children with disabilities and limited-English-proficient students were not permitted in 1992 and 1994, and students were tested with and without accommodations in 1998. (back to text)

² The 2003 and 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading Assessments were not administered to 12th-grade students. (back to text)

³ State samples were not collected for grade 12; therefore, state results for grade 12 are not available. (back to text)