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Mathematics
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics assessment is given every two years to students at grades 4 and 8, and approximately every four years at grade 12. The assessment measures both mathematics knowledge and the students’ ability to apply their knowledge in problem-solving situations. The results present a broad view of students’ mathematics knowledge, skills, and performance over time. The most recent mathematics assessment was given in 2019 to approximately 149,500 grade 4 students, 147,400 grade 8 students, and 25,400 grade 12 students.
Explore 2019 Mathematics Results
View highlights NationSee national 2019 mathematics assessment findings.
See the results StatesExplore mathematics assessment results in your state.
Find your state DistrictsExplore results in select urban districts.
Find your district Survey QuestionairesResponses provide additional information for understanding NAEP performance results.
Survey results Sample QuestionsSee questions from a sample mathematics assessment.
See questions
2019 Mathematics Findings
Explore a few highlights from 2019 Mathematics.
Assessment Content
The mathematics framework defines five broad content areas, three levels of complexity, and specifies the number of questions in each content area by grade. The framework also outlines what mathematics knowledge and skills students should have to reach NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced achievement. The mathematics framework was updated in 2005 and again in 2009. Survey questionnaires, administered to students, teachers, and school administrators who participate in a mathematics assessment, are used to collect and report contextual information about students’ learning experience in and out of the classroom.
State and District Data Tools
How Mathematics Results Are Reported
Student performance on the NAEP mathematics assessments is presented in two ways: scale scores and NAEP achievement levels.
- Scale scores represent how students performed on the mathematics assessment. Scores are aggregated and reported at the student group level for the nation, states, and districts.
- NAEP achievement levels are performance standards that describe what students should know and be able to do. Results are reported as percentages of students performing at or above three NAEP achievement levels (NAEP Basic,
NAEP Proficient, and
NAEP Advanced). Students performing at or above the
NAEP Proficient level on NAEP assessments demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter. It should be noted that the
NAEP Proficient achievement level does not represent grade level proficiency as determined by other assessment standards (e.g., state or district assessments).
Item maps illustrate how specific mathematics knowledge and skills correspond to different NAEP achievement levels. Item maps answer the question, "What does it mean for students to be at NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, or NAEP Advanced in terms of what they know and can do?"
How to Interpret Mathematics Results
Find out how to interpret the results of the mathematics assessment, including the potential effects of exclusion on assessment results.
Learn MoreLast updated 21 October 2020 (DS)