In 2007, students in grades 4 and 8 showed improvements from all previous assessments at all mathematics achievement levels.

The percentages of 4th- and 8th-grade students at or above Basic, at or above Proficient, and at Advanced achievement levels were higher in 2007 than the percentages for all previous mathematics assessments¹ (see table 13-1). For example, the percentage of 4th-grade students at or above Proficient increased by 3 percentage points from 2005 to 2007 and tripled from 1990 to 2007 (13 vs. 39 percent). For 8th-grade students, the percentage scoring at or above Proficient increased by 2 percentage points from 2005 to 2007 and doubled from 1990 to 2007 (15 vs. 32 percent).

From 1990 to 2007, the average NAEP mathematics scores increased 27 points for 4th-graders and 19 points for 8th-graders. Increases in scores were seen for both males and females and for most racial/ethnic groups. Both male and female 4th- and 8th-graders scored higher in 2007 than in any of the previous assessments (see table 13-2). In 2007, at each grade, males outscored females by 2 points; these score gaps were not measurably different from the gaps in either 2005 or 1990. For grade 4, average scores in 2007 for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander students were higher than the scores in any of the previous assessments. Although the score for American Indian/Alaska Native 4th-graders increased over time, there was no measurable difference between their 2005 and 2007 scores. For grade 8, average scores in 2007 for White, Black, and Hispanic students were higher than in any of the previous assessments. The average score for 8th-grade Asian/Pacific Islander students was higher in 2007 than in 1990, but not measurably different from their 2005 score. No measurable differences were detected in the scores for American Indian/Alaska Native 8th-graders over the assessment years.

NAEP results also permit state-level comparisons of the abilities of 4th- and 8th-graders in public schools. There were 42 states that participated in both the 1992 and 2007 assessments for 4th grade and 38 states that participated in both the 1990 and 2007 assessments for 8th grade. For each of these participating states and at each grade level, there was an increase in the average score as well as in the percentages of students scoring at or above Basic and at or above Proficient (see table 13-3).

¹ Testing accommodations (e.g., extended time, small group testing) for children with disabilities and limited-English-proficient students were not permitted in 1990 and 1992, and students were tested with and without accommodations in 1996. (back to text)