NAEP Reading — US Reading Score Trends
2024 NAEP Reading Scores Decline, Adding to a Decade of Declines
- Average reading scores declined in 2024 for students in 4th grade and 8th grade by 2 points nationally, compared to 2022.
- No state or jurisdiction made gains in 4th grade reading, but one TUDA district, Atlanta, saw an increase in 4th grade reading.
- No state or jurisdiction made gains in 8th grade reading.
- Average reading scores declined in 2024 for students in 12th grade by 3 points nationally, compared to 2019. The 2024 average reading score is the lowest ever reported for 12th grade.
2024 Reading Survey Findings
- The percentage of 4th graders and 8th graders who wrote long answers more than five times a year decreased in 2024 compared to both 2022 and 2019.
- In 2024, a larger percentage of 12th grade students reported being asked to evaluate evidence in persuasive passages, compared to 2019.
- 35% of 12th graders are considered academically ready for entry-level college reading coursework in 2024, compared to 37% in 2019, based on research commissioned by the Governing Board.
- Absenteeism remains a problem across all grades assessed.
US Reading Achievement Level Examples
4th Grade
Achievement Level |
Example of Knowledge or Skill |
|---|---|
NAEP Basic |
Sequence or categorize events from a literary text. |
NAEP Proficient |
Provide an opinion using relevant information from the text. |
NAEP Advanced |
Distinguish the theme of a text. |
8th Grade
Achievement Level |
Example of Knowledge or Skill |
|---|---|
NAEP Basic |
Identify basic literary elements such as the order of events, character traits, and main idea. |
NAEP Proficient |
Identify one or both sides of an argument in an informational text. |
NAEP Advanced |
Use text evidence from multiple sources to substantiate claims made by an author. |
12th Grade
Achievement Level |
Example of Knowledge or Skill |
|---|---|
NAEP Basic |
Draw general conclusions based on concepts presented explicitly in the text. |
NAEP Proficient |
Critique an author’s use of descriptive or figurative language. |
NAEP Advanced |
Explain how literary elements connect to the overall purpose of a text and how they develop throughout the text. |
NAEP Reading Assessment Framework
What reading knowledge and skills should students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grade be able to demonstrate? The NAEP Reading Assessment Framework provides a detailed blueprint of skills by topic and grade.
Reading Assessment Schedule
2026 |
National, state, and TUDA scores for 4th grade and 8th grade |
2028 |
National scores for 4th, 8th, and 12th grades; state and TUDA scores for 4th grade and 8th grade |
2030 |
National, state, and TUDA scores for 4th grade and 8th grade |
2032 |
National scores for 4th, 8th, and 12th grades; state and TUDA scores for 4th grade and 8th grade |