Mississippi maintains NAEP 4th grade reading gains despite national decline in all subjects

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Mississippi maintains NAEP 4th grade reading gains despite national decline in all subjects

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi maintained its historic gains in 4th grade reading on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), while scores nationally dropped in all four NAEP subjects and grades.

The 2022 NAEP results provide the first national measure of student learning since the start of the pandemic. Known as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP measures student performance in 4th and 8th grade reading and math in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The 2022 results show Mississippi 4th graders scored at the national average in both reading and math. Mississippi’s economically disadvantaged 4th graders achieved higher scores in reading and math than their peers nationally and in the South. This achievement holds steady among black, white and Hispanic students living in poverty.

“The 2022 NAEP scores prove the resilience of Mississippi students and the ability of Mississippi educators to provide high-quality instruction despite the challenges of the pandemic,” said Dr. Kim Benton, state superintendent of education, interim. “While our state’s scores are encouraging, they also underscore the need to press forward to ensure all students achieve proficiency. In particular, we have more work to do in 8th grade reading and math to bring student performance up to the national average and then continue to improve.”

In 8th grade, Mississippi scores dropped three points in reading and eight points in math, which matches the decline nationally in both subjects. Mississippi 4th graders dropped seven points in math, which is statistically equivalent to the five-point decline nationally.

While pandemic disruptions are believed to have affected this year’s national decline on NAEP, scores have been falling over the past decade in most states. Despite this national trend, Mississippi is a leader among the few states that have shown improvements on one or more NAEP assessments over the past decade. Specifically:

Mississippi achieved significant gains in 4th grade reading and math since 2011.
Along with Washington D.C., Mississippi is the only state or jurisdiction that improved over a 10-year period in two of the four core NAEP subjects.
Mississippi is one of only two states with improved 4th grade math scores over a decade and one of only three states with gains in 4th grade reading.
In 8th grade, Mississippi scores remained flat in reading and math over the past decade while the average scores nationally dropped in both subjects.

In short, over the past 10 years, Mississippi has improved significantly in reading and math in 4th grade and held steady in both subjects in 8thgrade while scores nationally in both grades and subjects have declined.

In 2019, Mississippi achieved the No. 1 spot in the nation for NAEP gains when 4th grade students made the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, 8th grade students outpaced the nation for growth in mathematics, and 8th grade reading held steady. Student achievement has increased significantly since 2013 after the statewide implementation of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, higher academic standards with aligned assessments, a strong accountability system, and a significant investment in professional development for educators.

Pre-pandemic, student achievement steadily increased from the first administration of the state’s Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) in 2016 until 2019, when the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced reached a record high. After a decline in MAAP scores in 2021, student achievement rebounded in 2022 to pre-pandemic levels.

NAEP Proficiency 2019 to 2022				NAEP Proficiency 10-Year Trend

Mississippi	2019 Related posts Co-Lin’s Institute for Learning in Retirement announces Fall 2026 Schedule August 3, 2026 Thoughts on School Choice August 1, 2026	2022	change*	Mississippi	2011	2022	change*
Grade 4 Reading	32%	31%	-1%	Grade 4 Reading	22%	31%	+9%
Grade 4 Math	39%	32%	-7%	Grade 4 Math	25%	32%	+7%
Grade 8 Reading	25%	22%	-3%	Grade 8 Reading	21%	22%	+1%
Grade 8 Math	24%	18%	-6%	Grade 8 Math	19%	18%	-1%

National Average	2019	2022	change	National Average	2011	2022	change
Grade 4 Reading	35%	32%	-3%	Grade 4 Reading	32%	32%	0%
Grade 4 Math	41%	35%	-6%	Grade 4 Math	39%	35%	-4%
Grade 8 Reading	34%	29%	-5%	Grade 8 Reading	32%	29%	-3%
Grade 8 Math	34%	26%	-8%	Grade 8 Math	34%	26%	-8%