For immediate release
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Contact: Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115
Massachusetts NAEP Results Lead Nation Again
MALDEN — Massachusetts fourth and eighth graders scored at or near the top once again in reading and mathematics on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, marking the eighth consecutive time the Commonwealth’s students scored first or statistically tied for first on the NAEP tests, the Baker-Polito Administration announced today.
Massachusetts students have scored first or statistically tied for first place on NAEP tests in fourth and eighth grade reading and math since 2005. According to the 2019 results, Massachusetts was first in fourth grade reading and tied for first among other states in fourth grade mathematics and eighth grade reading and mathematics. Massachusetts students scored above the national average on all four tests.
The NAEP test – commonly referred to as “The Nation’s Report Card” – is administered every two years to a sample of fourth and eighth graders.
Although Massachusetts remains the highest performing state in the country on the NAEP assessment, this year’s results point to areas with room for improvement and opportunities to close achievement gaps between groups of students. While African-American students in fourth grade math saw their score rise gains, and African-American students in eighth grade reading saw the gap between their average score and the average Massachusetts score narrow, achievement gaps for black and Latino students held steady or increased in most areas compared to 2017.
“Massachusetts is proud to be a national leader in education, and we are pleased to see our students and teachers once again performing at the highest level,” saidGovernor Charlie Baker. “We remain committed to closing achievement gaps for English language learners, low-income students and students with disabilities and look forward to putting accountability measures, programs and practices in place to support low-performing school districts.”
“I’m proud that Massachusetts students continue to excel in the classroom and lead the nation on this assessment,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “I’ve spent a lot of time in classrooms across the Commonwealth, and I continue to be impressed with the talent and ambition of our students. I believe these results provide an opportunity to focus on improvements to keep closing the achievement gap and seeking accountability in every district.”
“This year’s NAEP results confirm we must remain committed to a sense of urgency and accountability when it comes to deepening student learning and accelerating educational achievement, while reaffirming our core belief that all of our children, in every community of the Commonwealth, can achieve at high levels,” Education Secretary James Peyser said.
In fourth grade reading, Massachusetts was the state with the top scale score (231). Compared to 2017, the national average dropped in fourth grade reading, as did Massachusetts’ scores in that area.
Massachusetts students had the top scale score in eighth grade math (294), and New Jersey scored statistically the same. The national average dropped in eighth grade math, as did Massachusetts’ scores in that area.
Massachusetts’ average score in fourth grade math (247) was statistically the same as those of Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia and Wyoming, which collectively led the country.
In eighth grade reading, Massachusetts students had the top scale score (273), while New Jersey and Connecticut scored statistically the same. The national average dropped in eighth grade reading, as did Massachusetts’ scores in that area.
“The additional funding and accountability from the 1993 Education Reform Act helped propel Massachusetts to the top of the nation. Money used well can make a substantial difference. Today, we again face plateaus in Massachusetts’ results,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said. “Our new emphasis on innovative, engaging instruction, coupled with more support for our poorest districts can help our students become proficient.”
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in core subjects. The assessment tests representative samples of students in all 50 states and reports state-level results for grades 4 and 8. In Massachusetts, 3,300 grade 4 students were selected to take a NAEP reading assessment, and 3,400 were selected to take a math test. In eighth grade, 3,300 students were selected to take reading, and 3,400 were selected to take mathematics.
This is the second time that NAEP scores are from a computer-based test. The scale for NAEP reading and mathematics scores ranges from 0 to 500.
Other 2019 NAEP results for Massachusetts students included:
Grade 4 Reading:
Massachusetts had the top scale score (231). Massachusetts was first alone.
45 percent of all Massachusetts fourth graders scored Proficient or above, significantly higher than the national average of 34 percent and statistically different from 2017 (51 percent).
In 2019, Asian/Pacific Islander students had the highest average scale score (245), followed by white students (239), black students (213) and Hispanic students (212).
61 percent of Asian students scored Proficient or above, as did 54 percent of whites, 24 percent of blacks, and 25 percent of Hispanics.
Grade 8 Reading:
Massachusetts was the state with the top scale score (273). New Jersey and Connecticut scored statistically the same, and all other states scored lower.
45 percent of all Massachusetts students scored Proficient or above, significantly higher than the national public school rate of 32 percent and statistically different from 2017 (49 percent).
In 2019, Asian students had an average scale score of 292, whites 279, Hispanics 251 and blacks 259.
Grade 4 Mathematics:
Students in Massachusetts scored statistically the same as Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia and Wyoming, and all other states scored lower.
50 percent of all Massachusetts students scored Proficient or above, significantly higher than the national average of 40 percent.
In 2019, Asian students had an average scale score of 272, whites 254, Hispanic 232 and Blacks 232.
Grade 8 Mathematics:
Students in Massachusetts had the top scale score (294). New Jersey scored statistically the same, and all other states scored lower.
47 percent of all Massachusetts students scored Proficient or above, significantly higher than the national average of 33 percent.
In 2019, Asian students had an average scale score of 331, whites 302, Hispanics 269 and blacks 267.
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