Figure 4.2. Average reading scale scores, by grade and selected race/ethnicity: 2000, 2002, and 2003

— Not available. ! Interpret data with caution. NOTE: Accommodations were permitted. Scale score ranges from 0 to 500. For a discussion of the reading scale score definitions, see http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/scale.asp. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2000, 2002, and 2003 Reading Assessments.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) periodically assesses the skills of 4th- and 8th-grade students. NAEP assesses reading for literary experience (in grades 4 and 8), reading for information (in grades 4 and 8), and reading to perform a task (in grade 8).

In the 2003 assessment, American Indian/Alaska Native students had lower average reading scale scores than White and Asian/Pacific Islander students in both 4th and 8th grades. American Indian/Alaska Native students scored higher than Black students in the 4th grade in 2003.

Between 2002 and 2003, the average reading scores among American Indian/Alaska Native 4th-graders decreased by 5 points.

In addition to average scale scores, NAEP data are expressed as a series of achievement levels to indicate how well students perform against expectations for what students should know and be able to do. In 2003, a larger percentage of American Indians/Alaska Natives compared to Blacks read "at or above basic" in 4th grade and "at or above proficient" in 8th grade. Higher percentages of White and Asian/Pacific Islander students in both 4th and 8th grades achieved "at or above basic" and "at or above proficient" than American Indian/Alaska Native students.

View Table 4.2a

View Table 4.2b