Average writing scores of 8th- and 12th-graders were higher in 2007 than in previous years.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has assessed trends in the writing abilities of students in grades 8 and 12 in both public and private schools since 1998. Reported on a scale of 0 to 300, average writing scores of 8th- and 12th-graders were higher in 2007 than in either 1998 or 2002 (see table 14-1). Eighth-graders scored 3 points higher in 2007 than in 2002 and 6 points higher than in 1998. The average writing score for 12th-graders was 5 points higher in 2007 than in 2002 and 3 points higher than in 1998.

The percentage of 8th-graders performing at or above the Basic achievement level was higher in 2007 than in 1998 (88 vs. 84 percent), as was the percentage performing at or above the Proficient achievement level (33 vs. 27 percent).¹ The percentage of students at or above the Basic achievement level was also higher in 2007 than in 2002, but no measurable difference was detected in the percentage of students at or above Proficient between these two years. The percentage of 12th-graders performing at or above Basic increased from 74 percent in 2002 to 82 percent in 2007 and was higher in 2007 than in 1998. There was no measurable difference in the percentage performing at or above Proficient between 2002 and 2007, but there has been a 2 percentage point increase since 1998.

For all assessment years, females at each grade level outscored their male counterparts (see table 14-2). For example, 12th-grade females scored 18 points higher than their male peers in 2007. White, Black, and Hispanic 8th-graders had higher average scores in 2007 than in 1998 and 2002. Asian/Pacific Islander 8th-grade students scored higher in 2007 than in 2002, but the apparent change was not measurably different from 1998. Overall gains made by 12th-graders in 2007 were not consistent across all racial/ethnic groups. White students scored higher in 2007 than in either previous assessment year. Black and Asian/Pacific Islander students scored higher in 2007 than in 2002, but apparent differences were not measurably different from 1998. Writing scores in 2007 for Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native 12th-graders were not measurably different from those in previous assessments. For all assessment years, White students at each grade level outscored their Black and Hispanic peers.

¹ The percentage of students at or above Proficient includes students at the Advanced achievement level. Similarly, the percentage of students at or above Basic includes students at the Basic, those at the Proficient, and those at the Advanced achievement levels. (back to text)