These online Highlights reports present an overview of results from the NAEP 2018 civics, geography, and U.S. history reports. The reports include national results on the performance of eighth-grade students. Results are presented in terms of average scale scores and as percentages of students performing at or above the three NAEP achievement levels: NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced. In addition to overall scores, results are reported by racial/ethnic groups, gender, type of school, and other demographic groups.

There was no significant change in the 2018 average civics score for eighth-grade students compared to the score in 2014. Reflecting the relatively stable overall average score since 2014, there were no significant changes in the scores of students at any of the selected percentile levels or for any of the major student groups that NAEP reports on. The 2018 average civics score was higher than the score in 1998. In addition, the scores of lower-performing students (those at the 10th and 25th percentiles) in 2018 were also higher than in 1998.

The 2018 average geography score for eighth-grade students was lower than in 2014. In 2018, scores for lower-performing students at the 10th and 25th percentiles decreased compared to scores in 2014, while the scores for middle- and higher-performing students remained relatively stable. There was no significant change in the 2018 score compared to the score from the first assessment in 1994; however, scores for higher-performing students (those at the 75th and 90th percentiles) were lower than in 1994.

In 2018, the average U.S. history score for eighth-grade students was lower than in 2014. Students at all selected percentile levels other than those at the highest level (those at the 90th percentile) saw a decrease in their scores. Compared to the score in the first assessment year in 1994, the 2018 average U.S. history score was 4 points higher. Students across performance levels made gains compared to 1994 except those at the 90th percentile, where there was no significant change in the score for these highest-performing students.

Highlighted results include responses of students and teachers to survey questionnaires designed to collect information about students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and outside of the classroom. In addition, the report includes sample questions from the assessments to help illustrate the types of knowledge and skills measured in civics, geography, and U.S. history.

This report presents grade 8 results for the 2014 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in U.S. history, geography, and civics. National results for representative samples of students are reported as average scale scores and as percentages of students performing at three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Additional results are reported based on students’ demographic characteristics and educational experiences. The results are presented along with sample tasks and student responses. Information is also provided on NAEP samples and school and student participation rates. Trend results are reported for previous assessment years in these three subjects.

Since 1994, the first year of the NAEP U.S. history assessment, the average score for eighth-graders has increased by 8 points. There was no significant change in the average score compared to 2010. In 2014, seventeen percent of eighth-graders performed at the Proficient level in U.S. history, 53 percent performed at the Basic level, and 1 percent performed at the Advanced level.

There have been no significant changes in geography scores for eighth-graders since either the first assessment year (1994) or the previous assessment in 2010. In 2014, twenty-four percent of eighth-graders performed at the Proficient level in geography, 48 percent performed at the Basic level, and 3 percent performed at the Advanced level.

Compared to 1998, the first year of the NAEP civics assessment, the average score for eighth-graders in 2014 has increased by 4 points. There was no significant change in the average score compared to 2010. Twenty-two percent of eighth-graders performed at the Proficient level in civics, 51 percent performed at the Basic level, and 2 percent performed at the Advanced level.