Kentucky’s 4th and 8th graders made gains – and in some areas outperformed the nation – in reading and mathematics, according to results from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

Overall, the data indicate that:

  • Both 4th- and 8th-grade mathematics scale scores in Kentucky improved from 2009 to 2011.
  • In reading, both 4th- and 8th-grade scale scores in Kentucky are higher than the national average in 2011.
  • Kentucky’s 8th graders made gains in reading and mathematics when compared to the state’s performance in 2009; however, Kentucky’s 2011 4th-grade reading scale score dropped one point when compared to 2009.
  • Kentucky’s results have remained steady over the past few years, with minor gains and losses. Since 2000, Kentucky’s 4th graders have gained 20 points on the NAEP mathematics assessment, and 8th graders have gained 12 points. Since 1998, Kentucky’s 4th graders have gained 7 points on the NAEP reading assessment, and 8th graders have gained 7 points.

The NAEP grading scale ranges from 0 to 500. Students’ performance on NAEP fits into one of four categories: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient or Advanced. In Kentucky, in mathematics, 85 percent of 4th graders and 72 percent of 8th graders scored at the Basic level or above. In reading, 72 percent of 4th graders and 79 percent of 8th graders scored at the Basic level or above.

For more than 40 years, NAEP has been the country’s only nationally representative and continuing survey of students’ educational achievement. The assessment is authorized by Congress, directed by the National Center for Educational Statistics and developed by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, N.J.  

NAEP protects the confidentiality of students, teachers and schools that participate by not reporting individual student, teacher or school data. NAEP provides results by major demographic groups, and states that meet NAEP reporting criteria are able to compare their results with both national results and the results of other states.

More information is available on the NAEP website.