Quartiles

Findings

• In 2005, the nationwide average mathematics score of fourth grade public school students was 237, a significant increase from 224 in 2000.
• For the 41 jurisdictions that participated in both the 2000 and 2005 mathematics assessments, the average score for public school fourth graders showed a statistically significant increase between 2000 and 2005. Only the District of Columbia reported a 2005 average score below the 2000 national average of 224.
• The entire fourth grade student sample, including students performing at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles, demonstrated statistically significant gains in mathematics scores between 2000 and 2005.
• The gaps in mathematics scores between white fourth graders and black or Hispanic fourth graders narrowed between 2000 and 2005. The fourth grade gender gap in mathematics scores, although much smaller, decreased slightly between 2000 and 2005.

Description

This indicator reports each state's average score on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics for its fourth grade students in public schools. High scores indicate that fourth graders are demonstrating a solid foundation for adult mathematics competency. The NAEP mathematics assessment is a federally authorized assessment of student performance in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in 2005. Student performance is described in terms of average scores on a scale from 0 to 500.

Several recent changes to the NAEP methodology affect yearly comparisons. Beginning in 2002, NAEP obtained a national sample by aggregating the samples from each state rather than by selecting it independently; the increased national sample size makes smaller differences statistically significant. In 2005, NAEP included in the definition of the national sample all international Department of Defense schools.

NAEP allows students with disabilities or limited English proficiency to use certain accommodations (e.g., extended time, individual testing, or small group testing). All data presented here represent scores from tests taken with accommodations offered.

Data Table

Source Data