Fast Facts: U.S. History and Civics (1160)

U.S. History and Civics

Question:
How are American students performing in US history and civics?

Response:

U.S. History

The average U.S. history score for eighth-grade students in 2022 (258) was 5 points lower than in 2018, the previous assessment year. The 2022 average score was not significantly different compared to the first U.S. history assessment in 1994. Average scores are reported on the NAEP U.S. history scale, which ranges from 0 to 500.

Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) U.S. history scale scores of 8th-grade students: Selected years, 1994–2022

The data in this figure is described in the surrounding text.

--- Accommodations not permitted. — Accommodations permitted. * Significantly different (p < .05) from 2022.

In 2022, thirteen percent of eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient¹ level on the U.S. history assessment, which was 2 percentage points lower compared to 2018 and not significantly different from the first assessment year in 1994.²

Sixty percent of eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Basic³ level in 2022, which was 6 percentage points lower than in 2018 and not significantly different compared to 1994. One percent of eighth-grade students performed at the NAEP Advanced⁴ level, which was not significantly different in comparison to either 2018 or 1994.

In 2022, there were no significant changes in the percentages of eighth-grade students who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in U.S. history for any reported student group⁵ compared to 2018 with one exception: a lower percentage of students attending city schools performed at or above NAEP Proficient.

Civics

The average civics score for eighth-grade students in 2022 (150) was 2 points lower compared to 2018, the previous civics assessment year. The 2022 average score was not significantly different compared to the first civics assessment in 1998. Average scores are reported on the NAEP civics scale, which ranges from 0 to 300.

Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) civics scale scores of 8th-grade students: Selected years, 1994–2022

The data in this figure is described in the surrounding text.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2022.

In 2022, twenty-two percent of eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level on the civics assessment.⁶ The percentage of eighth-grade students performing at or above the NAEP Proficient level in 2022 was not significantly different compared to either the previous assessment in 2018 or to 1998, the first assessment year.

Sixty-nine percent of eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Basic level in 2022, which was 3 percentage points lower compared to 2018, while the percentage of students performing in the range below NAEP Basic was 3 points higher compared to 2018. Compared to 1998, there was no significant change in the percentage of students performing at or above NAEP Basic. Two percent of eighth-grade students performed at the NAEP Advanced level in 2022, which was not significantly different compared to either 2018 or 1998.

In 2022, the percentages of eighth-grade students who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in civics were not significantly different from 2018 for any student group.

¹ NAEP Proficient represents solid academic performance for each NAEP assessment. Students reaching this level have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, including subject-matter knowledge, application of such knowledge to real world situations, and analytical skills appropriate to the subject matter.
² Read more about the NAEP U.S. history achievement levels by grade.
³ NAEP Basic denotes partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for performance at the NAEP Proficient level.
⁴ NAEP Advanced signifies superior performance beyond NAEP Proficient.
⁵ Groups of the student population identified in terms of specific demographic or background characteristics. Some of the major student groups used for reporting NAEP results are those defined by students’ gender, race or ethnicity, highest level of parental education, and type of school (public or nonpublic). Information gathered from NAEP background questionnaires also makes it possible to report results based on variables such as course-taking, home discussions of school work, and television-viewing habits.
⁶ Read more about the NAEP civics achievement levels by grade.

SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Explore Results for the 2022 NAEP U.S. History Assessment and Explore Results for the 2022 NAEP Civics Assessment. The Nation’s Report Card. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ushistory/results/scores/ and https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/civics/results/scores/.

Related Tables and Figures: (Listed by Release Date)

Other Resources: (Listed by Release Date)

2023, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): This site provides access to publications and data on the reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, TEL, and arts achievement of U.S. students.