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| 2008 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 122. | Average reading scale score and percentage of 8th-graders in public schools attaining reading achievement levels, by locale and state or jurisdiction: Selected years, 1998 through 2007 |
| State or jurisdiction | Average scale score1 | Percent attaining reading achievement levels, 2007 | Average scale score1 by locale,2 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | 2002 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | Below Basic | At or above Basic3 | At or above Proficient4 | At Advanced5 | Central city | Urban fringe/ large town | Rural/ small town |
|||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||||||
| United States | 261 | (0.8) | 263 | (0.5) | 261 | (0.2) | 260 | (0.2) | 261 | (0.2) | 27 | (0.3) | 73 | (0.3) | 29 | (0.2) | 2 | (0.1) | 254 | (0.4) | 264 | (0.3) | 262 | (0.4) |
| Alabama | 255 | (1.4) | 253 | (1.3) | 253 | (1.5) | 252 | (1.4) | 252 | (1.0) | 38 | (1.2) | 62 | (1.2) | 21 | (1.3) | 1 | (0.4) | 246 | (2.8) | 260 | (3.1) | 250 | (1.6) |
| Alaska | — | (†) | — | (†) | 256 | (1.1) | 259 | (0.9) | 259 | (1.0) | 29 | (1.2) | 71 | (1.2) | 27 | (1.2) | 2 | (0.4) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) |
| Arizona | 260 | (1.1) | 257 | (1.3) | 255 | (1.4) | 255 | (1.0) | 255 | (1.2) | 35 | (1.6) | 65 | (1.6) | 24 | (1.4) | 2 | (0.5) | 253 | (1.5) | 258 | (2.2) | 253 | (4.5) |
| Arkansas | 256 | (1.3) | 260 | (1.1) | 258 | (1.3) | 258 | (1.1) | 258 | (1.0) | 30 | (1.3) | 70 | (1.3) | 25 | (1.1) | 1 | (0.4) | 257 | (2.8) | 261 | (2.0) | 257 | (1.3) |
| California6,7,8 | 252 | (1.6) | 250 | (1.8) | 251 | (1.3) | 250 | (0.6) | 251 | (0.8) | 38 | (0.8) | 62 | (0.8) | 21 | (0.8) | 2 | (0.3) | 249 | (0.9) | 251 | (0.9) | 257 | (3.6) |
| Colorado | 264 | (1.0) | — | (†) | 268 | (1.2) | 265 | (1.1) | 266 | (1.0) | 21 | (1.2) | 79 | (1.2) | 35 | (1.5) | 2 | (0.5) | 260 | (2.1) | 268 | (1.5) | 266 | (2.0) |
| Connecticut | 270 | (1.0) | 267 | (1.2) | 267 | (1.1) | 264 | (1.3) | 267 | (1.6) | 23 | (1.7) | 77 | (1.7) | 37 | (1.7) | 5 | (0.4) | 245 | (3.0) | 270 | (1.5) | 269 | (1.8) |
| Delaware | 254 | (1.3) | 267 | (0.5) | 265 | (0.7) | 266 | (0.6) | 265 | (0.6) | 23 | (0.8) | 77 | (0.8) | 31 | (1.2) | 2 | (0.4) | 266 | (2.4) | 265 | (0.7) | 269 | (1.4) |
| District of Columbia | 236 | (2.1) | 240 | (0.9) | 239 | (0.8) | 238 | (0.9) | 241 | (0.7) | 52 | (1.1) | 48 | (1.1) | 12 | (1.0) | 1 | (0.3) | 238 | (0.9) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) |
| Florida | 255 | (1.4) | 261 | (1.6) | 257 | (1.3) | 256 | (1.2) | 260 | (1.2) | 29 | (1.3) | 71 | (1.3) | 28 | (1.3) | 2 | (0.4) | 252 | (2.4) | 257 | (1.5) | 257 | (2.6) |
| Georgia | 257 | (1.4) | 258 | (1.0) | 258 | (1.1) | 257 | (1.3) | 259 | (1.0) | 30 | (1.4) | 70 | (1.4) | 26 | (1.4) | 2 | (0.5) | 245 | (2.8) | 261 | (2.1) | 257 | (2.1) |
| Hawaii | 249 | (1.0) | 252 | (0.9) | 251 | (0.9) | 249 | (0.9) | 251 | (0.8) | 38 | (1.0) | 62 | (1.0) | 20 | (0.9) | 1 | (0.3) | 255 | (1.6) | 249 | (1.4) | 243 | (1.5) |
| Idaho | — | (†) | 266 | (1.1) | 264 | (0.9) | 264 | (1.1) | 265 | (0.9) | 22 | (0.8) | 78 | (0.8) | 32 | (1.3) | 2 | (0.4) | 266 | (1.3) | 264 | (1.4) | 263 | (2.0) |
| Illinois | — | (†) | — | (†) | 266 | (1.0) | 264 | (1.0) | 263 | (1.0) | 25 | (1.1) | 75 | (1.1) | 30 | (1.5) | 2 | (0.4) | 256 | (1.9) | 268 | (1.5) | 266 | (2.1) |
| Indiana | — | (†) | 265 | (1.3) | 265 | (1.0) | 261 | (1.1) | 264 | (1.1) | 24 | (1.1) | 76 | (1.1) | 31 | (1.5) | 2 | (0.5) | 254 | (2.1) | 265 | (2.0) | 263 | (1.6) |
| Iowa | — | (†) | — | (†) | 268 | (0.8) | 267 | (0.9) | 267 | (0.9) | 20 | (1.0) | 80 | (1.0) | 36 | (1.4) | 2 | (0.6) | 262 | (1.5) | 272 | (2.3) | 268 | (1.4) |
| Kansas6,7,8 | 268 | (1.4) | 269 | (1.3) | 266 | (1.5) | 267 | (1.0) | 267 | (0.8) | 19 | (1.0) | 81 | (1.0) | 35 | (1.2) | 2 | (0.4) | 262 | (2.6) | 270 | (1.7) | 267 | (1.1) |
| Kentucky | 262 | (1.4) | 265 | (1.0) | 266 | (1.3) | 264 | (1.1) | 262 | (1.0) | 27 | (1.2) | 73 | (1.2) | 28 | (1.2) | 3 | (0.5) | 271 | (2.3) | 262 | (2.1) | 263 | (1.6) |
| Louisiana | 252 | (1.4) | 256 | (1.5) | 253 | (1.6) | 253 | (1.6) | 253 | (1.1) | 36 | (1.6) | 64 | (1.6) | 19 | (1.2) | 1 | (0.5) | 247 | (2.8) | 255 | (2.8) | 255 | (1.9) |
| Maine | 271 | (1.2) | 270 | (0.9) | 268 | (1.0) | 270 | (1.0) | 270 | (0.8) | 17 | (1.0) | 83 | (1.0) | 37 | (1.3) | 3 | (0.5) | 269 | (2.6) | 277 | (2.1) | 269 | (1.1) |
| Maryland6,7 | 261 | (1.8) | 263 | (1.7) | 262 | (1.4) | 261 | (1.2) | 265 | (1.2) | 24 | (1.3) | 76 | (1.3) | 33 | (1.5) | 3 | (0.4) | 251 | (3.6) | 262 | (1.5) | 266 | (2.7) |
| Massachusetts | 269 | (1.4) | 271 | (1.3) | 273 | (1.0) | 274 | (1.0) | 273 | (1.0) | 16 | (0.9) | 84 | (0.9) | 43 | (1.5) | 4 | (0.7) | 258 | (1.4) | 280 | (1.3) | 282 | (3.1) |
| Michigan | — | (†) | 265 | (1.6) | 264 | (1.8) | 261 | (1.2) | 260 | (1.2) | 28 | (1.5) | 72 | (1.5) | 28 | (1.3) | 2 | (0.4) | 251 | (2.9) | 265 | (1.4) | 266 | (2.2) |
| Minnesota6,7 | 265 | (1.4) | — | (†) | 268 | (1.1) | 268 | (1.2) | 268 | (0.9) | 20 | (1.2) | 80 | (1.2) | 37 | (1.2) | 3 | (0.5) | 264 | (3.2) | 272 | (1.6) | 267 | (1.6) |
| Mississippi | 251 | (1.2) | 255 | (0.9) | 255 | (1.4) | 251 | (1.3) | 250 | (1.1) | 40 | (1.4) | 60 | (1.4) | 17 | (1.4) | 1 | (0.3) | 246 | (2.9) | 254 | (2.2) | 250 | (1.8) |
| Missouri | 262 | (1.3) | 268 | (1.0) | 267 | (1.0) | 265 | (1.0) | 263 | (1.0) | 25 | (1.1) | 75 | (1.1) | 31 | (1.2) | 3 | (0.3) | 258 | (3.0) | 267 | (1.3) | 266 | (1.6) |
| Montana6,7 | 271 | (1.3) | 270 | (1.0) | 270 | (1.0) | 269 | (0.7) | 271 | (0.8) | 15 | (1.0) | 85 | (1.0) | 39 | (1.4) | 2 | (0.4) | 270 | (1.6) | 271 | (1.8) | 268 | (0.9) |
| Nebraska | — | (†) | 270 | (0.9) | 266 | (0.9) | 267 | (0.9) | 267 | (0.9) | 21 | (1.2) | 79 | (1.2) | 35 | (1.3) | 3 | (0.5) | 266 | (1.6) | 268 | (1.6) | 268 | (1.4) |
| Nevada | 258 | (1.0) | 251 | (0.8) | 252 | (0.8) | 253 | (0.9) | 252 | (0.8) | 37 | (0.9) | 63 | (0.9) | 22 | (1.0) | 2 | (0.4) | 253 | (1.4) | 251 | (1.4) | 256 | (1.5) |
| New Hampshire | — | (†) | — | (†) | 271 | (0.9) | 270 | (1.2) | 270 | (0.9) | 18 | (1.2) | 82 | (1.2) | 37 | (1.3) | 3 | (0.4) | 264 | (2.1) | 270 | (2.0) | 272 | (1.9) |
| New Jersey | — | (†) | — | (†) | 268 | (1.2) | 269 | (1.2) | 270 | (1.1) | 19 | (1.0) | 81 | (1.0) | 39 | (1.5) | 4 | (0.6) | ‡ | (†) | 270 | (1.2) | 278 | (3.0) |
| New Mexico | 258 | (1.2) | 254 | (1.0) | 252 | (0.9) | 251 | (1.0) | 251 | (0.8) | 38 | (1.3) | 62 | (1.3) | 17 | (0.9) | 1 | (0.3) | 256 | (1.9) | 249 | (1.9) | 248 | (1.7) |
| New York6,7 | 265 | (1.5) | 264 | (1.5) | 265 | (1.3) | 265 | (1.0) | 264 | (1.1) | 25 | (1.3) | 75 | (1.3) | 32 | (1.4) | 3 | (0.3) | 252 | (1.5) | 275 | (1.4) | 272 | (1.4) |
| North Carolina | 262 | (1.1) | 265 | (1.1) | 262 | (1.0) | 258 | (0.9) | 259 | (1.1) | 29 | (1.3) | 71 | (1.3) | 28 | (1.1) | 2 | (0.4) | 257 | (1.6) | 261 | (1.9) | 258 | (1.5) |
| North Dakota7 | — | (†) | 268 | (0.8) | 270 | (0.8) | 270 | (0.6) | 268 | (0.7) | 16 | (1.0) | 84 | (1.0) | 32 | (1.3) | 1 | (0.5) | 271 | (1.5) | 270 | (1.8) | 270 | (0.8) |
| Ohio | — | (†) | 268 | (1.6) | 267 | (1.3) | 267 | (1.3) | 268 | (1.2) | 21 | (1.2) | 79 | (1.2) | 36 | (1.6) | 3 | (0.6) | 248 | (3.1) | 272 | (1.6) | 272 | (2.2) |
| Oklahoma | 265 | (1.2) | 262 | (0.8) | 262 | (0.9) | 260 | (1.1) | 260 | (0.8) | 28 | (1.0) | 72 | (1.0) | 26 | (1.2) | 1 | (0.3) | 252 | (4.0) | 264 | (1.3) | 259 | (1.4) |
| Oregon7 | 266 | (1.5) | 268 | (1.3) | 264 | (1.2) | 263 | (1.1) | 266 | (0.9) | 23 | (1.2) | 77 | (1.2) | 34 | (1.7) | 3 | (0.4) | 264 | (2.2) | 264 | (1.7) | 261 | (1.9) |
| Pennsylvania | — | (†) | 265 | (1.0) | 264 | (1.2) | 267 | (1.3) | 268 | (1.2) | 21 | (1.4) | 79 | (1.4) | 36 | (1.5) | 3 | (0.6) | 247 | (3.9) | 273 | (1.9) | 268 | (1.4) |
| Rhode Island | 264 | (0.9) | 262 | (0.8) | 261 | (0.7) | 261 | (0.7) | 258 | (0.9) | 31 | (1.2) | 69 | (1.2) | 27 | (1.1) | 2 | (0.3) | 245 | (1.4) | 267 | (1.0) | 275 | (1.8) |
| South Carolina | 255 | (1.1) | 258 | (1.1) | 258 | (1.3) | 257 | (1.1) | 257 | (0.9) | 31 | (1.2) | 69 | (1.2) | 25 | (1.4) | 2 | (0.3) | 259 | (2.5) | 262 | (1.6) | 253 | (1.5) |
| South Dakota | — | (†) | — | (†) | 270 | (0.8) | 269 | (0.6) | 270 | (0.7) | 17 | (0.9) | 83 | (0.9) | 37 | (1.9) | 2 | (0.4) | 267 | (1.1) | 271 | (2.4) | 269 | (0.7) |
| Tennessee7 | 258 | (1.2) | 260 | (1.4) | 258 | (1.2) | 259 | (0.9) | 259 | (1.0) | 29 | (1.3) | 71 | (1.3) | 26 | (1.1) | 2 | (0.4) | 252 | (1.7) | 264 | (2.3) | 260 | (1.6) |
| Texas | 261 | (1.4) | 262 | (1.4) | 259 | (1.1) | 258 | (0.6) | 261 | (0.9) | 27 | (1.0) | 73 | (1.0) | 28 | (1.2) | 2 | (0.3) | 256 | (1.1) | 261 | (1.1) | 259 | (1.6) |
| Utah | 263 | (1.0) | 263 | (1.1) | 264 | (0.8) | 262 | (0.8) | 262 | (1.0) | 25 | (1.1) | 75 | (1.1) | 30 | (1.2) | 2 | (0.4) | 261 | (1.4) | 262 | (1.0) | 264 | (3.0) |
| Vermont | — | (†) | 272 | (0.9) | 271 | (0.8) | 269 | (0.7) | 273 | (0.8) | 16 | (1.1) | 84 | (1.1) | 42 | (1.3) | 4 | (0.6) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) |
| Virginia | 266 | (1.1) | 269 | (1.0) | 268 | (1.1) | 268 | (1.0) | 267 | (1.1) | 21 | (1.2) | 79 | (1.2) | 34 | (1.6) | 3 | (0.4) | 260 | (1.7) | 273 | (1.6) | 266 | (2.1) |
| Washington7 | 264 | (1.2) | 268 | (1.2) | 264 | (0.9) | 265 | (1.3) | 265 | (0.9) | 23 | (1.1) | 77 | (1.1) | 34 | (1.3) | 3 | (0.4) | 264 | (2.4) | 265 | (1.5) | 265 | (2.3) |
| West Virginia | 262 | (1.0) | 264 | (1.0) | 260 | (1.0) | 255 | (1.2) | 255 | (1.0) | 32 | (1.2) | 68 | (1.2) | 23 | (1.1) | 1 | (0.3) | 261 | (2.0) | 259 | (2.7) | 252 | (1.3) |
| Wisconsin6,7 | 265 | (1.8) | — | (†) | 266 | (1.3) | 266 | (1.1) | 264 | (1.0) | 24 | (1.3) | 76 | (1.3) | 33 | (1.7) | 3 | (0.4) | 255 | (2.6) | 276 | (1.6) | 266 | (1.6) |
| Wyoming | 263 | (1.3) | 265 | (0.7) | 267 | (0.5) | 268 | (0.7) | 266 | (0.7) | 20 | (1.1) | 80 | (1.1) | 33 | (1.0) | 2 | (0.5) | 267 | (1.6) | 270 | (3.7) | 269 | (0.8) |
| Department of Defense dependents schools9 |
269 | (1.3) | 273 | (0.5) | 272 | (0.6) | 271 | (0.7) | 273 | (1.0) | 13 | (1.3) | 87 | (1.3) | 39 | (1.6) | 2 | (0.5) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) |
| Other jurisdictions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| American Samoa | — | (†) | 198 | (1.7) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| Guam | — | (†) | 240 | (1.2) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 231 | (2.1) | 241 | (1.3) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
|
— Not available. † Not applicable. ‡ Reporting standards not met. 1 Scale ranges from 0 to 500. 2 Central city is a large or mid-size central city of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Urban fringe/large town includes places that are within an MSA of a central city but not primarily within its central city, as well as towns that are incorporated places not within an MSA and have a population greater than or equal to 25,000. Rural/small town includes places that are defined as rural by the U.S. Census Bureau and have a population less than 2,500 and/or a population density of less than 1,000 per square mile, as well as towns that are incorporated places not within an MSA and have a population less than 25,000 but greater than or equal to 2,500. 3 Basic denotes partial mastery of the knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at the 8th-grade level. 4 Proficient represents solid academic performance for 8th-graders. Students reaching this level have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter. 5 Advanced signifies superior performance. 6 Did not satisfy one or more of the guidelines for school participation in 1998. Data are subject to appreciable nonresponse bias. 7 Did not satisfy one or more of the guidelines for school participation in 2002. Data are subject to appreciable nonresponse bias. 8 Did not satisfy one or more of the guidelines for school participation in 2003. Data are subject to appreciable nonresponse bias. 9 Prior to 2005, NAEP divided the Department of Defense (DoD) schools into two jurisdictions, domestic and overseas. In 2005, NAEP began combining the DoD domestic and overseas schools into a single jurisdiction. Data shown in this table for years prior to 2005 were recalculated for comparability. NOTE: The reading data include students for whom accommodations were permitted. Standard errors appear in parentheses. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007 Reading Assessments, retrieved May 19, 2008, from the NAEP Data Explorer (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/). (This table was prepared May 2008.) |
