NAEP 2007 Reading

From the Nation's Report Card

button State Board of Education News Release - September 25, 2007

News Release

Mark Browning
Communications Officer
mark.browning@osbe.idaho.gov
208-332-1591

September 25, 2007

RELEASES NAEP SCORES (Reading and Mathematics)

BOISE-Idaho's fourth and eighth graders continue to show higher overall achievement than their U.S. counterparts in mathematics and reading, according to results released today from the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

"I am proud to see Idaho's students continue to score above the national average in mathematics and reading," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna. "As we continue to raise the bar in education, our students continue to work hard to meet the new challenges."

Idaho's reading scores for the fourth grade were higher in 2007 than in 2003, while reading scores in the eighth grade remained stable from 2003 to 2007.

Idaho's mathematics scores for the fourth and eighth grades were both higher in 2007 than in 2003.

Here are some highlights of the 2007 NAEP assessment results:

  • Idaho's average reading score for fourth graders (223) was higher than that of the nation's public schools (220). The average reading score for Idaho's fourth graders was higher than those of 20 states, the same as 20 states, and lower than 9 states.
  • Idaho's average reading score for eighth graders (265) was higher than that of the nation's public schools (261). The average reading score for Idaho's eighth graders was higher than those of 21 states, the same as 19 states, and lower than 9 states.
  • Idaho's average mathematics score for fourth graders (241) was higher than that of the nation's public schools (239). The average mathematics score for Idaho's fourth graders was higher than those of 21 states, the same as 14 states, and lower than 14 states.
  • Idaho's average mathematics score for eighth graders (284) was higher than that of the nation's public schools (280). The average mathematics score for Idaho's eighth graders was higher than those of 19 states, the same as 18 states, and lower than 12 states.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the "Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do. Its major goals are to measure student achievement and to report change in performance over time. NAEP provides results for the nation and for the states, but does not provide results for Idaho school districts, schools, classrooms, or individual students.

The Idaho State Board of Education includes NAEP in its statewide testing program because it gives comparative state and national information about student achievement in reading, mathematics, science and writing. The U.S. Department of Education pays for and administers NAEP.

For more information about NAEP results for Idaho or to view sample questions from the 2007 NAEP exam, please visit our homepage. Learn more about national results at www.nationsreportcard.gov.

NAEP 2007 Reading Results, Idaho v. Nation

Average Scale Score

  • In 2007, Idaho fourth graders had a reading average scale score (223) that was higher than the nation (220).
  • In 2007, Idaho eighth graders had a reading average scale score (265) that was higher than the nation (261).
  • In 2007, Idaho fourth and eighth graders both scored higher than the nation on all reading subscales.

Percent At or Above Basic (NAEP Basic :: ISAT proficient)

  • In 2007, 70 percent of Idaho fourth graders scored at or above Basic in reading, which was higher than their national peers (66 percent).
  • In 2007, 78 percent of Idaho eighth graders scored at or above Basic in reading, which was higher than their national peers (73 percent).
Idaho NAEP Snapshots: Reading 2007
  • Idaho and the Northwestern States [Grade 4] [Grade 8]
  • Idaho and States with Similar Per-Pupil Spending [Grade 4] [Grade 8]
  • Idaho Demographic Groups, Achievement Levels [Grade 4] [Grade 8]
  • Idaho and National Demographic Groups, Mean Scale Scores [Grade 4] [Grade 8]
  • Reading Cross-State Comparisons, Mean Scale Scores [Grade 4] [Grade 8]
  • Reading and Mathematics Together, Idaho and Nation, Achievement Levels, [Grades 4 and 8]
  • States with Scores Higher, Same As, or Lower than Idaho in 2003, 2005 & 2007, [Grades 4 and 8]
Miscellaneous - Reading
  • Idaho and Nation, Reading Trends from 1992 thru 2007, [Grades 4 and 8] (All Students)
  • Idaho and Nation, Reading Tables, 2003 and 2007, [Grades 4 and 8] (All Students, Male/Female & White/Hispanic)
  • Idaho Gaps and Changes in Gaps in Selected Groups, 2003 to 2007, [Grades 4 and 8]
  • ELL/LEP Achievement in Idaho, 2003 thru 2007, Grades 4 and 8, PowerPoint Show, or PDF File
  • IEP/504 Achievement in Idaho, 2003 thru 2007, Grades 4 and 8, PowerPoint Show, or PDF File
Reading in Idaho: An Example of Simpson's Paradox

Idaho vs Nation, Reading, Grade 4 NAEP 2007

Results from the NAEP 2007 reading assessment of fourth graders:

  • Idaho's White students (81% of Idaho's students, 227) scored lower than the nation's White students (56% of the nation's students, 230).
  • Idaho's Hispanic students (13%, 204) were not different from the nation's Hispanic students (20%, 204).
  • Idaho's "other" students (5%) averaged 216 while the nation's "other" students (24%) averaged 210. No statistical comparison was available via the NAEP Data Explorer.
  • Idaho's students (100%, 223) scored higher than the nation's students (100%, 220).

The "total average score" for all students depends not only on the average scores of the ethnic groups (center of the circle), but also on the proportion of students in each ethnic group (area of the circle).