Based on National Assessment of Educational Progress data in North Carolina, the average math and reading scores have declined for fourth and eighth grade students since 2019. However, between 2022 and 2024 NAEP data, the percentage of North Carolina's students scoring at or above the proficient level has increased in both fourth and eighth grade math by 6 percent.
The NAEP collects information on student performance in subjects, including reading and math, through a test administered every two years by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education.
According to the NAEP, disparities are growing between high-performing students and low-performing students across North Carolina.
In a press release from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, State Superintendent Mo Green said current fourth and eighth grade students' learning was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic during critical development periods.
In 2024, North Carolina's eighth grade math scores averaged at 276, which was two points above the national average.
In fourth grade math, North Carolina was one of 30 other states with fourth grade math scores that did not significantly change. However, North Carolina's eighth grade math scores have decreased since 2019.
Since 2019, fourth and eighth grade students in North Carolina have scored lower in the NAEP reading section and have not had statistically significant improvements since then.
