NAEP - Mathematics in Puerto Rico

NAEP Mathematics in Puerto Rico

In 2015, representative samples of approximately 4,700 fourth-grade students from 160 public schools and 5,100 eighth-grade students from 120 public schools in Puerto Rico participated in a Spanish-language version of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics assessment. View Puerto Rico results from the 2015 mathematics assessment in grades 4 and 8. Explore the results of the 2013 assessment.

In 2011, 2013, and 2015, the regular operational sections of the mathematics assessment were augmented with special sections of mathematics questions to better measure—both more precisely and reliably—the full range of mathematical abilities. These sections were administered in both Puerto Rico and the United States. These special sections allowed the results for Puerto Rico to be placed on the NAEP scale with relatively small margins of error, and permitted meaningful comparisons with achievement in the mainland United States as well as across the three years.

To see actual sample questions and background questionnaires administered in Puerto Rico, browse the Sample Questions booklets for

2015 (7 MB), and
2013 (2.7 MB).

Explore the 2016 Digital Transition Study to Mathematics Sample Questions Booklet
PDF File (1.3 MB)

The released questions for Puerto Rico for 2013 are also available at

grade 4 (4.3 MB), and
grade 8 (3.5 MB).

Find out more about NAEP by reading the 2016 Facts for Teachers (1.1 MB).

Fourth- and eighth-grade students in Puerto Rico also participated in NAEP mathematics assessments in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Because of issues such as relatively large portions of omitted responses and incorrect responses, results from these earlier assessments cannot be compared to 2011, 2013, and 2015.

Participation in the assessment is important because NAEP plays a valuable role in providing impartial, trusted information about what students know and can do. Learn more about why participation in NAEP is important or read the brochure What Every Parent Should Know About NAEP PDF File (800 KB), also available in Spanish (880 KB).

Learn more about NAEP and the Nation's Report Card

The Nation’s Report Card informs the public about the academic achievement of elementary and secondary students in the United States and participating jurisdictions. Report cards communicate the findings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a continuing and nationally representative measure of achievement in various subjects over time. The Nation’s Report Card compares performance among jurisdictions, public and private schools, and student demographic groups.

For over three decades, NAEP assessments have been conducted periodically in reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, geography, and other subjects. By making objective information available on student performance at the national, state, and local levels, NAEP is an integral part of our nation’s evaluation of the condition and progress of education. Only information related to academic achievement and relevant variables is collected. The privacy of individual students is protected, and the identities of participating schools are not released. NAEP is a congressionally mandated project of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education. The Commissioner of Education Statistics is responsible for carrying out the NAEP project. The National Assessment Governing Board oversees and sets policy for NAEP.

To find out more about NAEP from a parent's perspective, see Information for Parents.

Puerto Rico Reports

View Puerto Rico results from the 2015 mathematics Assessment in grades 4 and 8. View a report on results from Puerto Rico's 2013 administration. View reports on results from Puerto Rico's administrations of the 2003, 2005, and 2007 NAEP mathematics assessments. See the technical report that focuses on statistical issues of the 2003 and 2005 NAEP mathematics assessments in Puerto Rico.

Last updated 11 July 2016 (FW)