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| 2020 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 221.20. | Percentage of students at or above selected National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading achievement levels, by grade and selected student characteristics: Selected years, 2005 through 2019 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade and selected student characteristic | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | At or above NAEP Basic1 | At or above NAEP Profi-cient2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4th grade, all students | 64 | (0.3) | 31 | (0.2) | 67 | (0.3) | 33 | (0.3) | 67 | (0.3) | 33 | (0.4) | 67 | (0.3) | 34 | (0.4) | 68 | (0.3) | 35 | (0.3) | 69 | (0.4) | 36 | (0.4) | 68 | (0.3) | 37 | (0.3) | 66 | (0.3) | 35 | (0.3) |
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 61 | (0.4) | 29 | (0.3) | 64 | (0.4) | 30 | (0.3) | 64 | (0.3) | 30 | (0.4) | 64 | (0.4) | 31 | (0.4) | 65 | (0.3) | 32 | (0.4) | 66 | (0.5) | 33 | (0.5) | 65 | (0.4) | 34 | (0.4) | 63 | (0.4) | 32 | (0.4) |
| Female | 67 | (0.3) | 34 | (0.3) | 70 | (0.3) | 36 | (0.4) | 70 | (0.4) | 36 | (0.4) | 71 | (0.4) | 37 | (0.5) | 72 | (0.4) | 38 | (0.4) | 72 | (0.4) | 39 | (0.5) | 71 | (0.4) | 39 | (0.4) | 70 | (0.3) | 38 | (0.3) |
Race/ethnicity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 76 | (0.3) | 41 | (0.3) | 78 | (0.3) | 43 | (0.4) | 78 | (0.3) | 42 | (0.4) | 78 | (0.3) | 44 | (0.4) | 79 | (0.3) | 46 | (0.4) | 79 | (0.3) | 46 | (0.5) | 78 | (0.3) | 47 | (0.4) | 77 | (0.3) | 45 | (0.4) |
| Black | 42 | (0.5) | 13 | (0.3) | 46 | (0.6) | 14 | (0.4) | 48 | (0.8) | 16 | (0.5) | 49 | (0.6) | 17 | (0.5) | 50 | (0.6) | 18 | (0.5) | 52 | (0.6) | 18 | (0.5) | 51 | (0.8) | 20 | (0.5) | 48 | (0.7) | 18 | (0.5) |
| Hispanic | 46 | (0.7) | 16 | (0.5) | 50 | (0.6) | 17 | (0.6) | 49 | (0.7) | 17 | (0.5) | 51 | (0.8) | 18 | (0.5) | 53 | (0.6) | 20 | (0.6) | 55 | (1.0) | 21 | (0.7) | 54 | (0.6) | 23 | (0.5) | 55 | (0.6) | 23 | (0.4) |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 73 | (0.9) | 42 | (0.9) | 77 | (1.0) | 46 | (1.4) | 80 | (1.0) | 49 | (1.3) | 80 | (1.2) | 49 | (1.7) | 80 | (1.0) | 51 | (1.2) | 82 | (1.3) | 55 | (1.8) | 82 | (0.9) | 56 | (1.4) | 81 | (0.8) | 55 | (1.3) |
| Asian | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 81 | (1.2) | 50 | (1.7) | 82 | (1.0) | 53 | (1.2) | 84 | (1.4) | 57 | (2.0) | 84 | (0.9) | 59 | (1.4) | 82 | (0.8) | 57 | (1.4) |
| Pacific Islander | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 61 | (2.4) | 28 | (3.2) | 57 | (3.2) | 27 | (3.0) | 60 | (3.7) | 28 | (3.7) | 58 | (3.7) | 27 | (3.5) | 58 | (3.3) | 25 | (3.8) |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 48 | (1.5) | 18 | (1.0) | 49 | (1.4) | 18 | (1.1) | 50 | (1.7) | 20 | (1.4) | 47 | (1.7) | 18 | (1.4) | 51 | (1.6) | 21 | (1.4) | 52 | (2.1) | 21 | (1.9) | 48 | (2.3) | 20 | (1.9) | 50 | (2.3) | 19 | (1.7) |
| Two or more races | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 73 | (1.1) | 39 | (1.6) | 73 | (1.2) | 40 | (1.4) | 73 | (1.4) | 40 | (1.6) | 73 | (1.3) | 42 | (1.3) | 72 | (1.0) | 40 | (1.3) |
Eligibility for free or reduced- price lunch |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eligible | 46 | (0.4) | 16 | (0.3) | 50 | (0.4) | 17 | (0.3) | 51 | (0.4) | 17 | (0.3) | 52 | (0.4) | 18 | (0.3) | 53 | (0.4) | 20 | (0.3) | 56 | (0.5) | 21 | (0.4) | 54 | (0.4) | 22 | (0.3) | 53 | (0.4) | 21 | (0.3) |
| Not eligible | 77 | (0.2) | 42 | (0.3) | 79 | (0.3) | 44 | (0.4) | 80 | (0.3) | 45 | (0.4) | 82 | (0.3) | 48 | (0.5) | 83 | (0.3) | 51 | (0.5) | 83 | (0.3) | 52 | (0.6) | 82 | (0.3) | 52 | (0.4) | 81 | (0.3) | 51 | (0.4) |
| Unknown | 77 | (1.1) | 45 | (1.4) | 80 | (1.3) | 46 | (1.8) | 81 | (1.9) | 50 | (1.9) | 82 | (1.0) | 48 | (1.3) | 83 | (1.6) | 51 | (2.1) | 81 | (1.3) | 52 | (1.8) | 80 | (1.5) | 51 | (1.7) | 78 | (1.2) | 47 | (1.8) |
8th grade, all students |
73 | (0.2) | 31 | (0.2) | 74 | (0.2) | 31 | (0.2) | 75 | (0.3) | 32 | (0.4) | 76 | (0.3) | 34 | (0.3) | 78 | (0.3) | 36 | (0.3) | 76 | (0.3) | 34 | (0.3) | 76 | (0.3) | 36 | (0.3) | 73 | (0.3) | 34 | (0.3) |
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 68 | (0.3) | 26 | (0.3) | 69 | (0.4) | 26 | (0.3) | 71 | (0.4) | 28 | (0.4) | 72 | (0.4) | 29 | (0.3) | 74 | (0.4) | 31 | (0.4) | 72 | (0.3) | 29 | (0.4) | 72 | (0.4) | 31 | (0.4) | 68 | (0.4) | 28 | (0.4) |
| Female | 78 | (0.2) | 36 | (0.3) | 79 | (0.3) | 36 | (0.3) | 79 | (0.4) | 37 | (0.5) | 80 | (0.3) | 38 | (0.4) | 82 | (0.3) | 42 | (0.4) | 80 | (0.3) | 39 | (0.5) | 81 | (0.4) | 41 | (0.5) | 78 | (0.4) | 39 | (0.4) |
Race/ethnicity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 82 | (0.2) | 39 | (0.3) | 84 | (0.3) | 40 | (0.3) | 84 | (0.2) | 41 | (0.4) | 85 | (0.2) | 43 | (0.4) | 86 | (0.2) | 46 | (0.4) | 85 | (0.2) | 44 | (0.4) | 84 | (0.3) | 45 | (0.4) | 82 | (0.3) | 42 | (0.4) |
| Black | 52 | (0.6) | 12 | (0.4) | 55 | (0.6) | 13 | (0.4) | 57 | (0.6) | 14 | (0.5) | 59 | (0.7) | 15 | (0.5) | 61 | (0.6) | 17 | (0.5) | 58 | (0.7) | 16 | (0.5) | 60 | (0.6) | 18 | (0.5) | 54 | (0.7) | 15 | (0.4) |
| Hispanic | 56 | (0.6) | 15 | (0.4) | 58 | (0.5) | 15 | (0.4) | 61 | (0.8) | 17 | (0.6) | 64 | (0.8) | 19 | (0.5) | 68 | (0.7) | 22 | (0.6) | 66 | (0.6) | 21 | (0.5) | 67 | (0.6) | 23 | (0.6) | 63 | (0.7) | 22 | (0.6) |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 80 | (0.8) | 40 | (1.2) | 80 | (1.1) | 41 | (1.1) | 83 | (1.1) | 45 | (1.7) | 83 | (1.0) | 47 | (1.4) | 86 | (0.7) | 52 | (1.3) | 86 | (1.0) | 52 | (1.8) | 86 | (0.9) | 55 | (1.5) | 85 | (0.9) | 54 | (1.4) |
| Asian | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 84 | (1.0) | 49 | (1.5) | 87 | (0.7) | 54 | (1.3) | 87 | (1.0) | 54 | (1.9) | 87 | (0.9) | 57 | (1.5) | 87 | (0.8) | 57 | (1.4) |
| Pacific Islander | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 63 | (2.7) | 24 | (3.2) | 70 | (3.5) | 27 | (3.7) | 66 | (3.3) | 24 | (3.0) | 65 | (3.9) | 23 | (3.3) | 63 | (3.6) | 25 | (3.7) |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 59 | (2.1) | 17 | (1.7) | 56 | (1.9) | 18 | (1.3) | 62 | (2.0) | 21 | (1.2) | 63 | (1.4) | 22 | (1.7) | 62 | (1.8) | 19 | (1.6) | 63 | (2.2) | 22 | (1.8) | 63 | (1.8) | 22 | (2.1) | 59 | (2.3) | 19 | (2.1) |
| Two or more races | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 79 | (1.7) | 39 | (1.5) | 81 | (1.1) | 40 | (1.4) | 79 | (1.2) | 38 | (1.6) | 82 | (1.2) | 42 | (1.4) | 76 | (1.1) | 37 | (1.3) |
Eligibility for free or reduced- price lunch |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eligible | 57 | (0.4) | 15 | (0.3) | 58 | (0.4) | 15 | (0.2) | 60 | (0.5) | 16 | (0.3) | 63 | (0.5) | 18 | (0.3) | 66 | (0.4) | 20 | (0.2) | 64 | (0.4) | 20 | (0.4) | 65 | (0.4) | 21 | (0.3) | 60 | (0.5) | 20 | (0.4) |
| Not eligible | 81 | (0.3) | 39 | (0.2) | 83 | (0.3) | 40 | (0.4) | 85 | (0.3) | 42 | (0.5) | 86 | (0.3) | 45 | (0.4) | 87 | (0.3) | 48 | (0.4) | 87 | (0.3) | 47 | (0.5) | 86 | (0.3) | 48 | (0.5) | 83 | (0.3) | 46 | (0.4) |
| Unknown | 84 | (1.0) | 45 | (1.3) | 86 | (1.0) | 48 | (1.6) | 89 | (1.3) | 51 | (1.8) | 90 | (0.8) | 54 | (1.4) | 92 | (0.9) | 59 | (2.4) | 89 | (0.9) | 53 | (1.5) | 87 | (1.1) | 52 | (1.8) | 84 | (1.1) | 47 | (1.7) |
12th grade, all students |
73 | (0.8) | 35 | (0.7) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 74 | (0.6) | 38 | (0.8) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 75 | (0.6) | 38 | (0.7) | 72 | (0.5) | 37 | (0.6) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 70 | (0.5) | 37 | (0.6) |
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 67 | (0.9) | 29 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 69 | (0.8) | 32 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 70 | (0.7) | 33 | (0.7) | 68 | (0.6) | 33 | (0.7) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 65 | (0.7) | 32 | (0.7) |
| Female | 78 | (0.9) | 41 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 80 | (0.6) | 43 | (1.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 79 | (0.7) | 42 | (0.9) | 76 | (0.8) | 42 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 76 | (0.6) | 42 | (0.7) |
Race/ethnicity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 79 | (0.8) | 43 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 81 | (0.5) | 46 | (0.8) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 83 | (0.6) | 47 | (0.8) | 79 | (0.7) | 46 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 79 | (0.6) | 47 | (0.7) |
| Black | 54 | (1.5) | 16 | (1.2) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 57 | (1.3) | 17 | (1.2) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 56 | (1.2) | 16 | (0.9) | 52 | (1.5) | 17 | (1.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 50 | (1.0) | 17 | (0.9) |
| Hispanic | 60 | (1.9) | 20 | (1.3) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 61 | (1.1) | 22 | (1.3) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 64 | (1.2) | 23 | (1.0) | 63 | (1.1) | 25 | (1.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 61 | (0.8) | 25 | (0.9) |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 74 | (2.3) | 36 | (2.3) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 81 | (1.5) | 49 | (2.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 80 | (1.8) | 47 | (2.5) | 79 | (1.7) | 48 | (3.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 78 | (1.3) | 49 | (1.8) |
| Asian | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 80 | (1.9) | 48 | (2.6) | 80 | (1.8) | 49 | (3.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 79 | (1.4) | 50 | (1.8) |
| Pacific Islander | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 75 | (8.2) | 39 | (8.4) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 66 | (7.0) | 27 | (5.6) |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 67 | (10.1) | 26 | (8.6) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 70 | (6.4) | 29 | (5.5) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 65 | (5.0) | 26 | (4.8) | 65 | (8.6) | 28 | (6.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 59 | (3.6) | 23 | (2.8) |
| Two or more races | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 77 | (2.9) | 38 | (3.4) | 79 | (3.0) | 45 | (3.4) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 78 | (2.1) | 46 | (2.7) |
Eligibility for free or reduced- price lunch |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eligible | 59 | (1.4) | 20 | (0.8) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 61 | (0.8) | 21 | (1.1) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 62 | (1.0) | 22 | (0.8) | 60 | (0.9) | 23 | (0.8) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 58 | (0.6) | 23 | (0.6) |
| Not eligible | 76 | (0.8) | 39 | (0.8) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 79 | (0.6) | 44 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 82 | (0.5) | 46 | (0.7) | 79 | (0.7) | 45 | (0.9) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 78 | (0.6) | 46 | (0.8) |
| Unknown | 80 | (2.0) | 46 | (2.1) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 81 | (2.3) | 48 | (3.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 85 | (2.3) | 53 | (3.2) | 86 | (1.9) | 57 | (3.0) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 82 | (1.5) | 51 | (2.4) |
| ---Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 NAEP Basic denotes partial mastery of the knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at a given grade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 NAEP Proficient represents solid academic performance. Students reaching this level have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Includes public, private, Bureau of Indian Education, and Department of Defense Education Activity schools. Includes students tested with accommodations (2 to 14 percent of all students, depending on grade level and year); excludes only those students with disabilities and English language learners who were unable to be tested even with accommodations (2 to 6 percent of all students). Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Prior to 2011, separate data for Asian students, Pacific Islander students, and students of Two or more races were not collected. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 Reading Assessments, retrieved October 30, 2020, from the Main NAEP Data Explorer (https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE). (This table was prepared October 2020.) |
