Press Release: Maryland Scores Remain Above Average On National Assessments

Nation's Report Card Shows Significant Improvement In State Since Testing Began


For Immediate Release                                   Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486

                                                                                               
Baltimore, MD (November 7, 2013)

Maryland public school students again scored well above national averages on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for 2013.

Students in the State made progress on reading at both the fourth and eighth grade levels, while mathematics scores leveled off, according to data released today, although NAEP officials caution that none of the one-year changes is statistically significant.  Maryland students have made some of the nation’s most dramatic gains in both subject area's since NAEP was launched in 1990.

NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, tests a sample of fourth- and eighth-grade students on reading and mathematics every two years.  The test is a congressionally authorized project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education through the National Center for Education Statistics.

The grade level results are as follows:

  • Grade 4 Reading – Maryland scores improved from 231 in 2011 to 232 in 2013.  The national average for Grade 4 Reading is 221.  Maryland scores have increased by 20 points since 1992.  The percentage of Maryland students scoring in the advanced range has jumped from 9 in 2003 to 14 this year.  The percentage of students scoring in the advanced range nationally is 8.

  • Grade 8 Reading – Maryland scores improved from 271 in 2011 to 274 in 2013.  The national average for Grade 8 Reading is 266.  Maryland scores have increased by 12 points since 1998 and nine points since 2007.  The percentage of Maryland students scoring in the advanced range has increased from 3 in 2007 to 7 this year.  The percent of students scoring in the advanced range nationally is 4.

  • Grade 4 Mathematics – Maryland scores declined from 247 in 2011 to 245 in 2013.  The national average is 241.  Maryland scores have increased by 23 points since 2000 and 5 points since 2007.   The percentage of students scoring in the advanced range has increased from 5 in 2003 to 13 this year.  The percentage of students scoring in the advanced range nationally is 8.

  • Grade 8 Mathematics – Maryland scores dipped from 288 in 2011 to 287 in 2013.  The national average is 284. Maryland scores have increased 9 points since 2003.  The percentage of Maryland students scoring in the advanced range has jumped from 7 in 2003 to 12 this year.  The percentage of students scoring in the advanced range nationally is 8.