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| 2017 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 221.80. | Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading scale scores of 4th- and 8th-grade public school students and percentage attaining selected reading achievement levels, by race/ethnicity and jurisdiction or specific urban district: Selected years, 2009 through 2017 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade level and jurisdiction or specific urban district | Average reading scale score1 | Percent of students | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All students | All students | All students | All students | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian | All students | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian | At or above Basic2 | At or above Profi-cient3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| 4th grade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | 220 | (0.3) | 220 | (0.3) | 221 | (0.3) | 221 | (0.4) | 232 | (0.3) | 206 | (0.5) | 208 | (0.8) | 240 | (1.7) | 221 | (0.2) | 231 | (0.3) | 205 | (0.5) | 208 | (0.5) | 241 | (1.0) | 67 | (0.3) | 35 | (0.3) |
| All large cities4 | 210 | (0.7) | 211 | (0.7) | 212 | (0.7) | 214 | (0.8) | 235 | (1.2) | 204 | (0.9) | 206 | (0.8) | 233 | (4.1) | 213 | (0.6) | 234 | (1.2) | 203 | (0.7) | 206 | (0.7) | 230 | (2.2) | 58 | (0.8) | 28 | (0.6) |
| Selected urban districts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albuquerque (NM) | — | (†) | 209 | (1.6) | 207 | (1.5) | 207 | (1.6) | 227 | (2.6) | ‡ | (†) | 202 | (1.8) | ‡ | (†) | 207 | (1.6) | 229 | (3.0) | ‡ | (†) | 201 | (1.7) | ‡ | (†) | 53 | (1.9) | 24 | (1.7) |
| Atlanta (GA) | 209 | (1.5) | 212 | (1.4) | 214 | (1.3) | 212 | (1.6) | 251 | (2.2) | 202 | (1.9) | 205 | (4.7) | ‡ | (†) | 214 | (1.8) | 251 | (2.1) | 203 | (2.0) | 204 | (4.7) | ‡ | (†) | 57 | (1.8) | 30 | (1.5) |
| Austin (TX) | 220 | (1.8) | 224 | (2.3) | 221 | (1.6) | 220 | (1.8) | 248 | (2.3) | ‡ | (†) | 207 | (2.2) | ‡ | (†) | 217 | (1.7) | 245 | (2.7) | 198 | (4.3) | 204 | (2.0) | ‡ | (†) | 60 | (1.9) | 34 | (1.6) |
| Baltimore City (MD) | 202 | (1.7) | 200 | (1.7) | 204 | (1.6) | 199 | (1.7) | 217 | (3.8) | 196 | (1.9) | 200 | (4.4) | ‡ | (†) | 197 | (1.4) | 219 | (3.9) | 194 | (1.5) | 198 | (3.8) | ‡ | (†) | 39 | (1.9) | 13 | (1.5) |
| Boston (MA) | 215 | (1.2) | 217 | (0.8) | 214 | (1.1) | 219 | (1.4) | 241 | (2.5) | 214 | (2.1) | 214 | (1.8) | 230 | (3.7) | 217 | (1.4) | 238 | (3.0) | 209 | (2.4) | 213 | (1.7) | 242 | (3.6) | 60 | (1.8) | 29 | (1.6) |
| Charlotte (NC) | 225 | (1.6) | 224 | (1.2) | 226 | (1.6) | 226 | (1.6) | 245 | (2.1) | 216 | (2.3) | 212 | (2.6) | 246 | (5.4) | 225 | (1.5) | 248 | (1.9) | 215 | (2.1) | 212 | (2.7) | 242 | (5.9) | 70 | (1.7) | 40 | (2.0) |
| Chicago (IL) | 202 | (1.5) | 203 | (1.3) | 206 | (1.6) | 213 | (1.4) | 250 | (2.3) | 205 | (2.4) | 205 | (1.6) | 248 | (5.0) | 211 | (1.4) | 239 | (4.3) | 200 | (2.0) | 209 | (1.6) | 236 | (5.5) | 56 | (1.5) | 27 | (1.6) |
| Clark County (NV) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 213 | (1.1) | 228 | (2.3) | 203 | (2.8) | 206 | (1.5) | 234 | (4.3) | 59 | (1.5) | 29 | (1.5) |
| Cleveland (OH) | 194 | (2.0) | 193 | (0.9) | 190 | (1.9) | 197 | (2.0) | 210 | (3.1) | 193 | (2.7) | 199 | (4.3) | ‡ | (†) | 196 | (1.8) | 213 | (3.2) | 192 | (2.4) | 197 | (3.6) | ‡ | (†) | 38 | (2.3) | 11 | (1.2) |
| Dallas (TX) | — | (†) | 204 | (1.6) | 205 | (1.4) | 204 | (1.9) | 240 | (4.6) | 202 | (3.4) | 200 | (2.1) | ‡ | (†) | 201 | (2.0) | ‡ | (†) | 195 | (4.1) | 202 | (2.3) | ‡ | (†) | 45 | (2.3) | 15 | (1.8) |
| Denver (CO) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 214 | (1.7) | 241 | (3.0) | 205 | (3.3) | 201 | (1.7) | ‡ | (†) | 57 | (2.1) | 29 | (2.1) |
| Detroit (MI) | 187 | (1.9) | 191 | (2.0) | 190 | (2.2) | 186 | (2.0) | ‡ | (†) | 184 | (2.2) | 195 | (4.0) | ‡ | (†) | 182 | (1.8) | ‡ | (†) | 181 | (1.9) | 183 | (3.2) | ‡ | (†) | 22 | (1.8) | 5 | (0.9) |
| District of Columbia (DC) | 203 | (1.2) | 201 | (1.0) | 206 | (1.2) | 214 | (1.0) | 262 | (2.5) | 202 | (1.3) | 206 | (3.2) | ‡ | (†) | 213 | (0.9) | 258 | (1.9) | 203 | (1.3) | 202 | (2.5) | ‡ | (†) | 55 | (1.3) | 29 | (1.3) |
| Duval County (FL) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 225 | (1.5) | 236 | (2.0) | 212 | (2.1) | 225 | (2.7) | ‡ | (†) | 226 | (1.1) | 236 | (1.8) | 215 | (1.7) | 226 | (2.9) | ‡ | (†) | 72 | (1.8) | 38 | (1.7) |
| Fort Worth (TX) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 206 | (1.9) | 231 | (3.7) | 195 | (3.6) | 204 | (2.0) | ‡ | (†) | 50 | (2.6) | 19 | (1.8) |
| Fresno (CA) | 197 | (1.7) | 194 | (2.4) | 196 | (1.7) | 199 | (1.6) | 220 | (4.7) | 186 | (3.8) | 196 | (2.0) | 207 | (3.8) | 203 | (1.8) | 224 | (2.9) | 191 | (4.0) | 200 | (1.9) | 209 | (4.0) | 47 | (1.8) | 18 | (1.5) |
| Guilford County (NC) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 222 | (1.3) | 241 | (1.8) | 210 | (1.9) | 211 | (2.8) | 226 | (4.6) | 67 | (1.5) | 37 | (1.7) |
| Hillsborough County (FL) | — | (†) | 231 | (1.7) | 228 | (1.3) | 230 | (1.9) | 242 | (2.0) | 216 | (3.2) | 221 | (2.0) | ‡ | (†) | 227 | (1.4) | 237 | (2.0) | 211 | (2.5) | 223 | (1.9) | ‡ | (†) | 73 | (2.1) | 38 | (1.7) |
| Houston (TX) | 211 | (1.7) | 213 | (1.6) | 208 | (1.3) | 210 | (1.9) | 246 | (4.3) | 207 | (3.3) | 204 | (1.9) | ‡ | (†) | 205 | (1.7) | 242 | (3.6) | 196 | (3.5) | 203 | (1.9) | 241 | (4.7) | 49 | (1.9) | 20 | (1.4) |
| Jefferson County (KY) | 219 | (1.8) | 223 | (1.3) | 221 | (1.2) | 222 | (2.0) | 232 | (2.4) | 208 | (2.3) | 217 | (3.6) | ‡ | (†) | 221 | (1.4) | 235 | (1.9) | 203 | (2.0) | 215 | (3.6) | ‡ | (†) | 65 | (1.6) | 35 | (1.6) |
| Los Angeles (CA) | 197 | (1.1) | 201 | (1.2) | 205 | (1.6) | 204 | (1.8) | 233 | (4.2) | 202 | (4.9) | 197 | (1.7) | 237 | (5.0) | 207 | (1.5) | 235 | (2.7) | 196 | (4.5) | 201 | (1.4) | 240 | (4.2) | 53 | (1.8) | 23 | (1.5) |
| Miami-Dade (FL) | 221 | (1.2) | 221 | (1.5) | 223 | (1.5) | 226 | (1.3) | 239 | (4.5) | 210 | (3.3) | 229 | (1.6) | ‡ | (†) | 229 | (1.2) | 246 | (3.7) | 218 | (2.5) | 230 | (1.5) | ‡ | (†) | 76 | (1.4) | 42 | (1.5) |
| Milwaukee (WI) | 196 | (2.0) | 195 | (1.7) | 199 | (1.9) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 195 | (1.6) | 218 | (3.6) | 188 | (2.2) | 195 | (2.9) | 207 | (4.4) | 40 | (2.0) | 15 | (1.3) |
| New York City (NY) | 217 | (1.4) | 216 | (1.2) | 216 | (1.4) | 214 | (1.5) | 233 | (4.7) | 206 | (1.7) | 205 | (2.0) | 236 | (2.6) | 214 | (1.3) | 234 | (2.4) | 207 | (2.3) | 204 | (1.9) | 230 | (2.1) | 60 | (1.4) | 28 | (1.5) |
| Philadelphia (PA) | 195 | (1.8) | 199 | (1.8) | 200 | (1.7) | 201 | (2.2) | 216 | (4.3) | 198 | (1.8) | 188 | (4.4) | 221 | (4.6) | 197 | (2.1) | 225 | (6.7) | 191 | (2.2) | 186 | (3.7) | 230 | (6.0) | 40 | (2.3) | 17 | (1.7) |
| San Diego (CA) | 213 | (2.1) | 215 | (1.7) | 218 | (1.6) | 216 | (2.0) | 240 | (3.1) | 201 | (6.2) | 204 | (2.7) | 223 | (4.5) | 222 | (1.6) | 243 | (2.7) | 208 | (4.1) | 209 | (2.2) | 233 | (3.1) | 66 | (2.0) | 37 | (1.7) |
| Shelby County (TN) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 203 | (1.4) | 232 | (5.6) | 198 | (1.6) | 206 | (3.9) | ‡ | (†) | 45 | (2.1) | 16 | (1.5) |
| 8th grade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | 262 | (0.3) | 264 | (0.2) | 266 | (0.2) | 264 | (0.2) | 273 | (0.2) | 247 | (0.5) | 253 | (0.4) | 280 | (1.4) | 265 | (0.3) | 274 | (0.3) | 248 | (0.5) | 255 | (0.5) | 283 | (1.0) | 75 | (0.3) | 35 | (0.3) |
| All large cities4 | 252 | (0.5) | 255 | (0.5) | 258 | (0.8) | 257 | (0.9) | 277 | (1.3) | 246 | (0.8) | 251 | (1.0) | 272 | (2.4) | 258 | (0.7) | 276 | (1.0) | 246 | (0.9) | 253 | (0.7) | 274 | (2.6) | 68 | (0.8) | 27 | (0.8) |
| Selected urban districts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albuquerque (NM) | — | (†) | 254 | (1.2) | 256 | (1.0) | 251 | (1.2) | 267 | (2.2) | ‡ | (†) | 246 | (1.3) | ‡ | (†) | 255 | (1.1) | 276 | (2.7) | ‡ | (†) | 249 | (1.4) | ‡ | (†) | 64 | (1.6) | 25 | (1.5) |
| Atlanta (GA) | 250 | (1.5) | 253 | (1.0) | 255 | (1.0) | 252 | (1.4) | 290 | (2.9) | 246 | (1.5) | 258 | (3.7) | ‡ | (†) | 254 | (1.9) | 295 | (3.1) | 246 | (2.0) | 259 | (4.1) | ‡ | (†) | 62 | (2.4) | 24 | (1.7) |
| Austin (TX) | 261 | (2.0) | 261 | (1.5) | 261 | (1.4) | 261 | (1.5) | 290 | (3.1) | 241 | (5.0) | 249 | (1.6) | ‡ | (†) | 263 | (1.7) | 286 | (2.5) | 240 | (4.3) | 252 | (2.0) | ‡ | (†) | 71 | (1.5) | 36 | (1.9) |
| Baltimore City (MD) | 245 | (1.7) | 246 | (1.6) | 252 | (1.5) | 243 | (1.7) | 268 | (5.9) | 240 | (2.0) | 246 | (5.1) | ‡ | (†) | 243 | (1.3) | 271 | (3.9) | 239 | (1.3) | 243 | (5.9) | ‡ | (†) | 50 | (2.1) | 13 | (1.3) |
| Boston (MA) | 257 | (1.5) | 255 | (1.2) | 257 | (1.0) | 258 | (1.2) | 282 | (3.1) | 250 | (2.1) | 249 | (2.3) | 281 | (3.9) | 261 | (1.2) | 286 | (3.1) | 251 | (2.0) | 253 | (2.0) | 282 | (3.5) | 70 | (1.6) | 32 | (1.6) |
| Charlotte (NC) | 259 | (1.0) | 265 | (0.9) | 266 | (1.2) | 263 | (1.6) | 284 | (2.1) | 251 | (2.4) | 254 | (3.7) | ‡ | (†) | 260 | (1.4) | 280 | (1.9) | 248 | (2.1) | 251 | (2.6) | 281 | (4.4) | 71 | (1.8) | 30 | (2.0) |
| Chicago (IL) | 249 | (1.6) | 253 | (1.1) | 253 | (1.0) | 257 | (1.8) | 289 | (5.0) | 247 | (1.6) | 257 | (1.6) | ‡ | (†) | 259 | (1.3) | 283 | (3.4) | 248 | (1.7) | 257 | (1.7) | 292 | (4.2) | 70 | (1.5) | 27 | (1.8) |
| Clark County (NV) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 258 | (0.8) | 271 | (1.7) | 244 | (2.6) | 252 | (1.1) | 275 | (3.2) | 70 | (1.1) | 27 | (1.4) |
| Cleveland (OH) | 242 | (1.6) | 240 | (1.7) | 239 | (1.6) | 240 | (1.6) | 251 | (3.4) | 238 | (2.1) | 238 | (3.3) | ‡ | (†) | 237 | (1.8) | 248 | (3.4) | 236 | (2.1) | 234 | (4.8) | ‡ | (†) | 45 | (2.5) | 10 | (1.5) |
| Dallas (TX) | — | (†) | 248 | (1.0) | 251 | (1.3) | 250 | (1.3) | ‡ | (†) | 241 | (2.5) | 251 | (1.5) | ‡ | (†) | 246 | (1.3) | ‡ | (†) | 238 | (2.6) | 247 | (1.4) | ‡ | (†) | 56 | (1.6) | 15 | (1.3) |
| Denver (CO) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 258 | (1.3) | 285 | (2.9) | 249 | (3.8) | 250 | (1.7) | ‡ | (†) | 67 | (1.7) | 29 | (2.0) |
| Detroit (MI) | 232 | (2.4) | 237 | (1.0) | 239 | (1.6) | 237 | (1.2) | ‡ | (†) | 235 | (1.5) | 245 | (3.1) | ‡ | (†) | 235 | (1.4) | ‡ | (†) | 233 | (1.5) | 242 | (3.1) | ‡ | (†) | 41 | (2.3) | 7 | (1.2) |
| District of Columbia (DC) | 240 | (1.5) | 237 | (1.2) | 245 | (1.3) | 245 | (1.4) | 299 | (3.8) | 236 | (1.8) | 244 | (3.7) | ‡ | (†) | 246 | (1.5) | 303 | (4.4) | 236 | (1.6) | 237 | (4.8) | ‡ | (†) | 53 | (2.1) | 21 | (1.5) |
| Duval County (FL) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 264 | (1.4) | 272 | (2.2) | 254 | (1.5) | 262 | (3.6) | ‡ | (†) | 263 | (1.2) | 273 | (1.8) | 252 | (2.0) | 258 | (3.0) | ‡ | (†) | 74 | (1.4) | 31 | (1.6) |
| Fort Worth (TX) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 248 | (1.3) | 272 | (3.4) | 235 | (2.5) | 249 | (1.5) | ‡ | (†) | 59 | (2.1) | 16 | (1.6) |
| Fresno (CA) | 240 | (2.4) | 238 | (1.8) | 245 | (1.4) | 242 | (1.9) | 256 | (4.5) | 238 | (3.9) | 238 | (2.2) | 249 | (3.9) | 244 | (1.9) | 264 | (3.6) | 232 | (3.7) | 241 | (2.1) | 255 | (3.3) | 53 | (2.4) | 14 | (1.4) |
| Guilford County (NC) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 260 | (1.3) | 278 | (2.0) | 246 | (2.1) | 252 | (3.2) | 258 | (5.8) | 69 | (1.5) | 30 | (1.6) |
| Hillsborough County (FL) | — | (†) | 264 | (1.5) | 267 | (1.2) | 261 | (1.7) | 274 | (2.1) | 246 | (3.4) | 254 | (2.3) | ‡ | (†) | 265 | (1.3) | 275 | (1.7) | 248 | (3.0) | 261 | (2.1) | 284 | (6.1) | 74 | (1.6) | 34 | (1.7) |
| Houston (TX) | 252 | (1.2) | 252 | (0.9) | 252 | (1.2) | 252 | (1.8) | 280 | (4.1) | 246 | (2.6) | 247 | (1.5) | ‡ | (†) | 249 | (1.0) | 276 | (3.4) | 243 | (2.1) | 247 | (1.4) | ‡ | (†) | 59 | (1.5) | 18 | (1.1) |
| Jefferson County (KY) | 259 | (1.0) | 260 | (1.1) | 261 | (1.0) | 261 | (1.8) | 271 | (2.7) | 247 | (1.9) | 260 | (4.6) | ‡ | (†) | 261 | (1.3) | 273 | (1.9) | 245 | (1.7) | 256 | (4.4) | ‡ | (†) | 69 | (1.6) | 30 | (1.8) |
| Los Angeles (CA) | 244 | (1.1) | 246 | (1.1) | 250 | (1.4) | 251 | (1.4) | 273 | (3.2) | 248 | (5.3) | 246 | (1.3) | 274 | (4.8) | 254 | (1.0) | 276 | (3.1) | 249 | (3.2) | 248 | (1.1) | 285 | (3.1) | 65 | (1.3) | 23 | (1.5) |
| Miami-Dade (FL) | 261 | (1.4) | 260 | (1.4) | 259 | (1.0) | 265 | (1.8) | 279 | (4.5) | 254 | (3.1) | 266 | (1.9) | ‡ | (†) | 261 | (1.2) | 272 | (4.5) | 251 | (2.2) | 263 | (1.3) | ‡ | (†) | 72 | (1.5) | 30 | (1.5) |
| Milwaukee (WI) | 241 | (2.0) | 238 | (1.6) | 242 | (1.4) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 245 | (1.4) | 265 | (5.2) | 234 | (1.6) | 253 | (2.8) | 252 | (7.8) | 54 | (1.7) | 15 | (1.5) |
| New York City (NY) | 252 | (1.4) | 254 | (1.8) | 256 | (1.2) | 258 | (1.7) | 276 | (3.7) | 247 | (2.0) | 254 | (2.2) | 270 | (3.5) | 258 | (1.6) | 273 | (3.3) | 246 | (2.6) | 250 | (2.1) | 274 | (3.8) | 67 | (1.9) | 28 | (1.9) |
| Philadelphia (PA) | 247 | (2.5) | 247 | (1.5) | 249 | (1.8) | 248 | (2.0) | 263 | (4.8) | 240 | (2.2) | 244 | (3.6) | 276 | (5.3) | 248 | (1.9) | 269 | (4.4) | 240 | (2.1) | 242 | (3.7) | 275 | (5.9) | 57 | (2.2) | 20 | (2.0) |
| San Diego (CA) | 254 | (2.8) | 256 | (2.1) | 260 | (1.5) | 262 | (2.0) | 283 | (2.9) | 252 | (4.4) | 248 | (2.9) | 266 | (4.1) | 264 | (1.1) | 282 | (2.4) | 239 | (4.9) | 252 | (2.0) | 279 | (3.0) | 74 | (1.3) | 35 | (1.6) |
| Shelby County (TN) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 248 | (1.6) | 273 | (4.7) | 244 | (1.9) | 251 | (4.3) | ‡ | (†) | 57 | (2.2) | 17 | (1.9) |
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Scale ranges from 0 to 500. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Basic denotes partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at a given grade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Proficient represents solid academic performance. Students reaching this level have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Includes public school students from all cities in the nation with populations of 250,000 or more, including the participating districts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Totals include racial/ethnic groups not shown separately. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 Reading Assessments, retrieved June 14, 2018, from the Main NAEP Data Explorer (https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/). (This table was prepared June 2018.) |
