While only one in three American fourth graders reads proficiently, a closer look at the statistics reveals deep and persistent challenges across every level of our education system.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022 NAEP assessment, 33% of U.S. 4th graders scored at or above proficient in reading
- In 2019 NAEP, average reading score for 4th graders was 217 out of 500
- 2022 NAEP data shows 40% of 4th grade White students proficient or above in reading vs. 17% Black students
- 2022 NAEP, 26% of U.S. 8th graders scored at or above proficient in reading
- 2019 NAEP average reading score for 8th graders: 262 out of 500
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade White students proficient: 37% vs. Black 15%
- 2022 NAEP, 30% of 12th graders at or above proficient in reading
- 2019 NAEP 12th grade average reading score: 285/500
- NAEP 2019: 12th grade White proficient 40% vs. Black 17%
- PIAAC 2017: 19% of U.S. adults at Level 1 or below in literacy
- PIAAC: 54% of U.S. adults at Level 2 or below literacy proficiency
- 2012/14 PIAAC: Average U.S. adult literacy score 272/500
- NAEP long-term trend 1971-2023: 9-year-olds reading scores down 7 points since 2020
- Since 1990, 4th grade NAEP reading up 9 points to 220 by 2019
- 8th grade NAEP reading stagnant since 1992 at ~260
American reading proficiency remains low and has recently declined, with significant achievement gaps.
Adult Literacy Rates
- PIAAC 2017: 19% of U.S. adults at Level 1 or below in literacy
- PIAAC: 54% of U.S. adults at Level 2 or below literacy proficiency
- 2012/14 PIAAC: Average U.S. adult literacy score 272/500
- National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) 1992: 21-23% adults below basic literacy
- PIAAC 2017: 34% U.S. adults proficient at Level 3 or above literacy
- 48% of U.S. adults read below 6th grade level per 2023 Gallup
- PIAAC: Literacy below Level 2 correlates with 30% lower wages
- 2017 PIAAC update: 52 million U.S. adults (21%) functionally illiterate
- Adult Literacy League: Average American reads at 7th-8th grade level
- PIAAC 2012: 33% adults Level 2 literacy, 15% Level 3+
- 35% of U.S. adults can't read above 5th grade per News4Jax analysis
- PIAAC: Older adults (65+) 31% below Level 2 literacy
- 2014 PIAAC: Hispanic adults literacy average 246, lowest group
- Black adults PIAAC average literacy 256 vs. White 283
- PIAAC employed adults: 28% Level 1/below literacy
- Less than HS diploma: 43% below basic literacy per PIAAC
- HS grads PIAAC literacy Level 2 or below: 45%
- College grads: 12% below Level 2 literacy PIAAC
- PIAAC urban adults literacy slightly higher at 275 average
- Rural adults PIAAC literacy 10 points below urban
- PIAAC females average literacy 278 vs. males 272
- 16-24 year olds PIAAC literacy peak at 284 average
- 2012 PIAAC: 4% U.S. adults at Level 4/5 literacy
- PIAAC trend 2012-2017: No significant change in adult literacy distribution
- 2023 AP News: 54% Americans below 6th grade reading per PIAAC analysis
Adult Literacy Rates Interpretation
While the nation debates "The Great American Novel," the sobering subplot is that a majority of its adults read at a level that would struggle with its finer chapters, a functional divide that stubbornly persists and quietly costs us in wages, equity, and shared understanding.
Grade School Performance
- In 2022 NAEP assessment, 33% of U.S. 4th graders scored at or above proficient in reading
- In 2019 NAEP, average reading score for 4th graders was 217 out of 500
- 2022 NAEP data shows 40% of 4th grade White students proficient or above in reading vs. 17% Black students
- U.S. 4th graders NAEP reading basic or above: 65% in 2022
- From 2019 to 2022, 4th grade NAEP reading scores declined by 5 points nationally
- 2022 NAEP: 52% of 4th grade Asian students at proficient or above in reading
- NAEP 2022: 4th grade female students average reading score 223 vs. males 211
- In PISA 2018, U.S. 4th grade equivalent reading score averaged 505, below OECD average
- 2022 NAEP Long-term trend: 9-year-olds reading at basic level or above dropped to 53% from 60% in 2020
- PIRLS 2021: U.S. 4th graders at advanced reading level: 7%
- NAEP 2022: 4th grade students eligible for free/reduced lunch: 23% proficient in reading
- Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016: 10% of U.S. 4th graders at low reading benchmark
- NAEP 2017: 4th grade Hispanic students reading proficient: 25%
- 2022 NAEP: Urban 4th graders reading proficient: 29%
- NAEP data: 4th grade English learners proficient in reading: 8% in 2022
- PIRLS 2021 U.S. average reading score for 4th graders: 521
- NAEP 2022: 4th grade students with disabilities reading proficient: 13%
- From 1992-2022, 4th grade NAEP reading scores stagnant around 217-220
- 2019 NAEP: Midwest 4th graders highest regional reading average at 222
- NAEP 2022: Charter school 4th graders reading proficient: 28%
- PIRLS 2011: U.S. 4th graders reading scale score 556, above international average
- NAEP 2022: 4th grade DOE non-public school students proficient: 48%
- 2022 NAEP: Rural 4th graders reading proficient: 32%
- NAEP historical: 4th grade Black-White reading gap 27 points in 2022
- PIRLS 2021: 35% U.S. 4th graders at intermediate or higher reading levels
- NAEP 2015: 4th grade Native American students proficient: 22%
- 2022 NAEP: Suburban 4th graders reading average 227
- NAEP 2022: 4th grade Pacific Islander students proficient: 20%
- PIRLS U.S. trend: 4th grade reading scores declined 10 points from 2016 to 2021
- NAEP 2022: 4th grade Two or more races proficient: 40%
Grade School Performance Interpretation
The American reading report card reads like a tale of stubborn inequality and pandemic backsliding, where only a third of our fourth graders are on track, and the persistent, shameful achievement gaps prove that we've mastered the art of teaching some students but far from all.
High School Performance
- 2022 NAEP, 30% of 12th graders at or above proficient in reading
- 2019 NAEP 12th grade average reading score: 285/500
- NAEP 2019: 12th grade White proficient 40% vs. Black 17%
- 12th grade NAEP basic or above: 79% in 2019
- 2015-2019 NAEP 12th grade reading decline 5 points to 285
- NAEP 2019: Asian 12th graders proficient 49%
- 12th grade females NAEP average 292 vs. males 278 in 2019
- PISA 2018 15-year-olds (high school) U.S. reading 505
- NAEP 12th grade 2019: Free/reduced lunch proficient 23%
- NAEP 2019: Hispanic 12th grade proficient 25%
- 2019 NAEP: Urban high schoolers reading proficient 27%
- NAEP 2019: English learners 12th grade proficient 5%
- 12th grade disabilities NAEP proficient 12% in 2019
- 2005-2019 NAEP 12th grade reading up slightly to 285
- NAEP 2019: Northeast 12th graders average 293
- Charter high school NAEP 12th reading proficient 29% 2019
- NAEP 2019: Native American 12th proficient 21%
- Suburban 12th NAEP average 291 in 2019
- Pacific Islander 12th NAEP proficient 16% 2019
- NAEP 12th Black-White gap 24 points 2019
- Rural 12th NAEP proficient 30% 2019
- Two or more races 12th proficient 37% NAEP 2019
- Non-public 12th NAEP proficient 45% 2019
High School Performance Interpretation
America's reading report card paints a grimly predictable portrait: while a privileged few coast into literacy, the system is failing vast swaths of students, with stark and persistent gaps along racial, economic, and ability lines that no amount of national pride can erase.
Middle School Performance
- 2022 NAEP, 26% of U.S. 8th graders scored at or above proficient in reading
- 2019 NAEP average reading score for 8th graders: 262 out of 500
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade White students proficient: 37% vs. Black 15%
- U.S. 8th graders NAEP reading basic or above: 74% in 2022
- From 2019-2022, 8th grade NAEP reading scores dropped 8 points
- 2022 NAEP: Asian 8th graders reading proficient: 49%
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade females average 269 vs. males 255
- PISA 2018 U.S. 8th grade equivalent reading score: 505
- NAEP Long-term 2023: 13-year-olds reading basic or above: 64% down from 69%
- TIMSS 2019: U.S. 8th graders reading-related literacy average above international
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade free/reduced lunch eligible proficient: 18%
- NAEP 2019: 8th grade Hispanic proficient: 22%
- 2022 NAEP: Urban 8th graders reading proficient: 23%
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade English learners proficient: 4%
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade students with disabilities proficient: 9%
- 1992-2022 NAEP 8th grade reading scores flat at 260-263
- NAEP 2019: Northeast 8th graders highest at 269 average
- 2022 NAEP: Charter 8th graders proficient: 21%
- NAEP 2015: 8th grade Native American proficient: 18%
- 2022 NAEP: Suburban 8th graders average 272
- NAEP 2022: 8th grade Pacific Islander proficient: 14%
- NAEP historical: 8th grade Black-White gap 29 points in 2022
- NAEP 2022: Rural 8th graders proficient: 25%
- NAEP 2017: Two or more races 8th grade proficient: 34%
- 2022 NAEP DOE non-public 8th grade proficient: 43%
Middle School Performance Interpretation
We are staring at a literacy map where the elevation varies wildly—from a plateau of stubborn national averages to deep, persistent achievement canyons between groups, all while recent seismic shifts have caused the ground to sink beneath our feet.
Trends and Comparisons
- NAEP long-term trend 1971-2023: 9-year-olds reading scores down 7 points since 2020
- Since 1990, 4th grade NAEP reading up 9 points to 220 by 2019
- 8th grade NAEP reading stagnant since 1992 at ~260
- PISA U.S. reading scores declined 13 points 2000-2018 to 505
- PIRLS U.S. 4th grade reading down 16 points 2011-2021
- Adult literacy stable 1992 NALS 14% proficient vs. PIAAC 12% Level 4/5
- COVID impact: 2022 NAEP 4th grade reading -3 points, 8th -3 points
- Black-White 4th grade gap widened to 27 points NAEP 2022 from 25 in 2019
- U.S. vs. OECD PISA reading: 20th out of 79 countries 2018
- NAEP female advantage in reading grew to 12 points 4th grade 2022
- Hispanic reading scores NAEP up 20 points since 1990 for 4th grade
- PIAAC U.S. below 16 OECD countries in adult literacy average
- Finland PIRLS 4th grade reading 549 vs. U.S. 521 in 2021
- NAEP 12th grade reading down 3 points per decade since 2005
- Adult functional illiteracy steady at ~20% since 1990s
- Singapore PISA reading 549 vs. U.S. 505 2018, top performer
- NAEP low-income 4th grade reading gap with high-income 25 points 2022
- U.S. reading proficiency vs. math: Reading worse post-COVID
- Canada PIAAC adult literacy 273 vs. U.S. 272, similar
- NAEP state trends: Massachusetts 4th reading 232 highest 2022
- New Mexico lowest state 4th NAEP reading 207 2022
- Gender gap NAEP reading stable 10-12 points across grades
- PISA equity: U.S. larger SES reading gap than OECD average
- NAEP long-term 1975: 17-year-olds average 285, same as 2012
Trends and Comparisons Interpretation
The reading report card of America reveals a nation that has, for decades, been admirably running in place academically, only to trip over a pandemic and watch its most vulnerable students fall further behind.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NATIONSREPORTCARDnationsreportcard.govVisit source
- Reference 2NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 3TIMSSANDPIRLStimssandpirls.bc.eduVisit source
- Reference 4NEWSnews.gallup.comVisit source
- Reference 5ADULTLITERACYLEAGUEadultliteracyleague.orgVisit source
- Reference 6NEWS4JAXnews4jax.comVisit source
- Reference 7APNEWSapnews.comVisit source