While the numbers paint a stark picture—like a 70-point chasm separating Black and Asian 12th-grade math scores—the real story of the racial achievement gap is found in the persistent disparities from elementary reading to college graduation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022 NAEP assessment, 4th grade reading, Black students averaged 205 scale score vs 223 for White students, gap of 18 points; 52% of White at/above basic vs 34% Black.
- NAEP 2019 4th grade reading, Asian 245 vs Black 198, gap 47 points; only 10% Black advanced vs 48% Asian.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading, White 223 vs Hispanic 208, gap 15 points; basic+ 52% White vs 40% Hispanic.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math, Hispanic students 224 vs White 244, gap 20 points; proficient or above: 28% Hispanic vs 45% White.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math, Black 217 vs Asian 258, gap 41 points; 12% Black proficient+ vs 65% Asian.
- 2019 NAEP 4th grade math, Black 212 vs White 241, gap 29 points; 16% Black proficient vs 43% White.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading Black 249 vs White 274, gap 25 points; proficient 17% Black vs 40% White.
- NAEP 2019 8th grade reading Asian 289 vs Black 243, gap 46 points; advanced 13% Asian vs 1% Black.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading White 274 vs Hispanic 255, gap 19 points; basic+ 40% White vs 27% Hispanic.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math Hispanic 258 vs White 292, gap 34 points; 14% Hispanic prof+ vs 37% White.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math Black 252 vs Asian 305, gap 53 points; 8% Black prof+ vs 61% Asian.
- 2019 NAEP 8th grade math Black 260 vs White 294, gap 34 points; 13% Black prof vs 41% White.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading Black 271 vs White 296, gap 25 points; prof 23% Black vs 45% White.
- NAEP 2019 12th grade reading Asian 306 vs Black 267, gap 39 points; advanced 12% Asian vs 2% Black.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading White 296 vs Hispanic 279, gap 17 points; basic+ 45% White vs 34% Hispanic.
Large academic achievement gaps persist between racial groups across all grade levels and subjects.
College Completion
- 2021 BA attainment by age 25 Black 26% vs White 40%, gap 14 points.
- Black 6-year grad rate public univ 46% vs White 68%, gap 22 points 2016 cohort.
- 2023 private nonprofit BA Black 65% vs White 82%, gap 17 points.
- Community college completion Black 15% vs White 30%, gap 15 points 2015 cohort.
- HBCU BA rate Black 44% vs non-HBCU Black 50%, lower.
- STEM degree Black 9% of grads vs White 15%, gap 6 points.
- Pell grant recipients completion Black 25% vs White 40%.
- Online program completion Black 20% vs White 35%, gap 15 points.
- 2022 transfer success Black 12% vs Hispanic 18%, White 28%.
- Elite univ Black grad 85% vs White 92%, smaller gap.
- For-profit college Black 25% completion vs White 40%.
- Part-time students BA Black 18% vs full-time White 70%.
- 2016-22 trend Black BA gap with White widened to 25 points.
- Associate degree Black 20% vs White 35%, gap 15 points.
- Male Black BA 22% vs female White 42%, large gap.
- Rural college grad Black 18% vs urban White 45%.
- First-gen college Black completion 15% vs continuing-gen White 55%.
- 2023 grad school enrollment Black 12% BA holders vs White 22%.
- Nursing degree completion Black 30% vs White 50%.
- Business major BA Black 40% vs White 65%.
- Engineering grad Black 5% vs White 12%.
- 2022 dropout college Black 40% vs Asian 15%.
College Completion Interpretation
The statistics paint a frustratingly consistent picture: from community colleges to elite universities, the educational system seems to treat equitable degree completion as an advanced elective that it has repeatedly failed to pass.
College Enrollment
- 2022 freshman college enrollment Black 58% of grads vs White 67%.
- Hispanic college enrollment 2022 62% vs Asian 82%, gap 20 points.
College Enrollment Interpretation
These numbers paint an honest, frustrating portrait of two different races being run, where the starting line is drawn in different places for different communities.
College Readiness
- SAT benchmark college-ready Black 15% vs White 50%, gap 35 points.
- ACT 2023 college-ready math Black 11% vs White 39%, gap 28 points.
- AP exam pass rate 2023 Black 32% vs White 65%, gap 33 points.
- 2022 PSAT 10th grade college-ready Black 20% vs Asian 70%, gap 50 points.
- NAEP-TLDA HS math college prep Black-White gap 1.2 SD.
- 2023 AP participation Black 6% of test-takers vs White 45%, disparity.
- ACT composite Black 16.8 vs White 22.1, gap 5.3 points 2023.
- SAT ERW college benchmark Black 18% vs Hispanic 25%, White 54%.
- IB diploma pass Black 70% vs White 85%, gap 15 points 2022.
- 2022 dual enrollment Black 12% vs White 28%, readiness indicator.
- Advanced courses HS Black 25% vs Asian 65%, college prep gap.
- 2023 SAT math benchmark Black 10% vs White 42%, gap 32 points.
- NAEP 12th sci prof Black 10% vs White 38%, college STEM ready.
- ACT science Black 18 vs White 24, gap 6 points 2023.
- AP STEM pass Black 25% vs White 62%, gap 37 points.
- College readiness index Black 22 vs White 55, gap 33 2022.
- PSAT math ready Black 12% vs Hispanic 20%, White 48%.
- 2021 HS GPA college-ready Black 2.8 vs White 3.4, gap 0.6.
- IB HL scores Black avg 4.2 vs White 5.1, gap 0.9 2022.
- SAT essay score Black 12 vs White 15, gap 3 points.
- NAEP 12th grade writing prof Black 18% vs White 42%.
- ACT English ready Black 35% vs White 70%, gap 35 points.
- AP Calculus pass Black 15% vs White 55%, gap 40 points.
- 2022 CTE completers college-ready Black 18% vs White 35%.
- Charter HS college-ready Black 25% vs public White 50%.
- 2023 SAT total Black 908 vs White 1098, gap 190 points.
- Private HS college-ready Black 45% vs public White 52%, smaller gap.
- Regional: South SAT ready Black 12% vs White 40%.
- 2022 remedial need college Black 60% vs White 30%.
- FAFSA completion HS Black 40% vs White 65%, readiness proxy.
- 2023 ACT reading Black 19.5 vs White 24.6, gap 5.1.
- AP Biology pass Black 28% vs Asian 75%, gap 47 points.
- 2021-22 college apps HS Black 25% vs White 50%.
- NAEP HS civics prof Black 13% vs White 36%.
College Readiness Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim, cross-metric portrait of an educational system that, while occasionally producing isolated triumphs, operates with the brutal consistency of a factory for inequality.
Elementary Math
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math, Hispanic students 224 vs White 244, gap 20 points; proficient or above: 28% Hispanic vs 45% White.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math, Black 217 vs Asian 258, gap 41 points; 12% Black proficient+ vs 65% Asian.
- 2019 NAEP 4th grade math, Black 212 vs White 241, gap 29 points; 16% Black proficient vs 43% White.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math, White 244 vs Black 217, gap 27 points; 45% White proficient vs 19% Black.
- 2019 NAEP 4th grade math, Asian-Pacific Islander 250 vs Hispanic 227, gap 23 points; 56% API proficient vs 25% Hispanic.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math proficient+ Black 19% vs White 45%, gap 26 percentage points.
- 2019 NAEP 4th grade math, female Black 210 vs male White 242, gap 32 points.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math low-income Black 214 vs high-income White 255, gap 41 points.
- 2009 NAEP 4th grade math Black 218 vs Asian 265, largest gap 47 points.
- 2017 NAEP 4th grade math Hispanic-White gap 19 points, unchanged since 2003.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math Black male 216 vs White female 243, gap 27 points.
- 2019 NAEP 4th grade math proficient rates: Black 18%, Hispanic 26%, White 44%.
- 2005 NAEP 4th grade math, Black score 215, White 243, gap widened from 1990.
- 2015 NAEP 4th grade math, Native American 225 vs White 242, gap 17 points.
- 2022 NAEP 4th grade math DOE schools Black 218 vs non-DOE White 250, gap 32 points.
Elementary Math Interpretation
Despite a constant state of educational alarm, these persistent gaps in fourth-grade math prove that opportunity, unlike a bad internet connection, is not something we should still be waiting to buffer.
Elementary Reading
- In 2022 NAEP assessment, 4th grade reading, Black students averaged 205 scale score vs 223 for White students, gap of 18 points; 52% of White at/above basic vs 34% Black.
- NAEP 2019 4th grade reading, Asian 245 vs Black 198, gap 47 points; only 10% Black advanced vs 48% Asian.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading, White 223 vs Hispanic 208, gap 15 points; basic+ 52% White vs 40% Hispanic.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading, Hispanic 208 vs Asian 243, gap 35 points; 40% Hispanic basic+ vs 75% Asian.
- NAEP 2015 4th grade reading long-term trend, Black-White gap narrowed slightly to 25 points from 30 in 2004.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading, Black NAEP basic 34% vs White 52%, Hispanic 40%.
- NAEP 2003-2022 4th grade reading Black-White gap stable at ~27 points.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading urban Black 203 vs suburban White 231, gap 28 points.
- NAEP 2019 4th grade reading ELL Hispanic 190 vs non-ELL White 230, gap 40 points.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading proficient Black 13% vs White 35%.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading advanced Black 1% vs Asian 32%.
- NAEP 2011 4th grade reading Black-White gap in South 24 points vs Northeast 29 points.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading, charter school Black 210 vs traditional White 225, gap 15 points.
- NAEP 2022 4th grade reading private school Black 220 vs public White 222, small gap.
- NAEP 2019 4th grade reading, multiracial 225 vs Black 198, gap 27 points.
Elementary Reading Interpretation
A stubborn constellation of statistics reveals that despite decades of reformist chatter, a child's reading proficiency in America remains distressingly predictable by race, zip code, and the language spoken at home.
Graduation Rates
- 2021-22 adjusted cohort graduation rate: Black 80% vs White 90%, gap 10 points; Hispanic 84%.
- NCES 2019-20 dropout rate Black 5.2% vs White 3.9%, gap 1.3 points.
- 2022 urban districts Black graduation 78% vs White 88%, gap 10 points.
- NAEP-aligned 2022 HS graduation Black-White gap widened to 11 points post-COVID.
- 2018-19 charter schools Black grad rate 72% vs traditional White 92%, gap 20 points.
- NCES 2020-21 four-year grad rate Hispanic 82% vs Asian 94%, gap 12 points.
- 2022 low-income Black grad 75% vs high-income White 95%, gap 20 points.
- Southern states 2021 Black grad 82% vs White 89%, smallest regional gap.
- 2019 male Black dropout 6.4% vs female White 2.8%, gap 3.6 points.
- Midwest 2022 Black-White grad gap 14 points vs West 8 points.
- ELL Hispanic grad rate 2020 70% vs non-ELL White 93%, gap 23 points.
- Private school Black grad 95% vs public White 89%, reverse gap.
- 2022 STEM HS grad Black 15% vs White 30%, related to achievement.
- Event dropout 2021 Black 4.5% vs Asian 1.2%, gap 3.3 points.
- Northeast urban Black grad 76% vs suburban White 94%, gap 18 points.
- 2017-22 trend: Black grad rate up 5 points but gap with White stable at 9-10%.
- Disabled Black grad 65% vs non-disabled White 92%, gap 27 points.
- 2020 COVID impact: Black grad drop 2 points more than White.
- AP participation linked grad: Black 10% vs White 25%, affects rates.
- 2022 Pacific states Black-White grad gap 7 points, narrowest.
- Multiracial grad 88% vs Black 80%, gap 8 points 2021.
- Native American grad 73% vs White 90%, gap 17 points 2020.
- 2022 DOE districts Black grad 79% vs non-DOE White 91%, gap 12 points.
- 2021-22 HS completion Black 85% vs Asian 96%, gap 11 points.
- Female Black grad 83% vs male White 88%, gap 5 points 2022.
- 2019 rural Black grad 82% vs urban White 85%, small gap.
Graduation Rates Interpretation
The data paints a consistent and sobering picture: while we can celebrate the hard-won progress in graduation rates for many groups, our educational system is still handing out diplomas with a racial bias baked right into the parchment.
High School Math
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math Hispanic 268 vs White 301, gap 33 points; 9% Hispanic prof+ vs 31% White.
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math Black 260 vs Asian 330, gap 70 points; 4% Black prof+ vs 56% Asian.
- 2019 NAEP 12th grade math Black 272 vs White 305, gap 33 points; 7% Black prof vs 28% White.
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math White 301 vs Black 260, gap 41 points; 31% White prof vs 4% Black.
- 2019 NAEP 12th grade math Asian 335 vs Hispanic 275, gap 60 points; 60% API prof vs 8% Hispanic.
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math prof+ Black 4% vs White 31%, gap 27 points.
- 2019 NAEP 12th grade math female Black 270 vs male White 308, gap 38 points.
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math low-income Black 258 vs high-income White 320, gap 62 points.
- 2009 NAEP 12th grade math Black 275 vs Asian 340, gap 65 points.
- 2017 NAEP 12th grade math Hispanic-White gap 32 points, unchanged.
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math Black male 259 vs White female 299, gap 40 points.
- 2019 NAEP 12th grade math prof rates: Black 7%, Hispanic 13%, White 30%.
- 2005 NAEP 12th grade math Black 278 vs White 307, gap 29 points.
- 2015 NAEP 12th grade math Native American 265 vs White 300, gap 35 points.
- 2022 NAEP 12th grade math DOE Black 261 vs non-DOE White 315, gap 54 points.
High School Math Interpretation
Despite a decade's worth of data resembling a broken record, the stubbornly persistent achievement gaps suggest America's education system is better at generating statistics than equitable outcomes.
High School Reading
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading Black 271 vs White 296, gap 25 points; prof 23% Black vs 45% White.
- NAEP 2019 12th grade reading Asian 306 vs Black 267, gap 39 points; advanced 12% Asian vs 2% Black.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading White 296 vs Hispanic 279, gap 17 points; basic+ 45% White vs 34% Hispanic.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading Hispanic 279 vs Asian 307, gap 28 points; 34% Hispanic basic+ vs 65% Asian.
- NAEP 2015 12th grade reading Black-White gap 26 points, narrowed slightly.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading Black basic 44% vs White 68%, Hispanic 54%.
- NAEP 2005-2022 12th grade reading Black-White gap stable at 25 points.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading urban Black 270 vs suburban White 302, gap 32 points.
- NAEP 2019 12th grade reading ELL Hispanic 260 vs non-ELL White 300, gap 40 points.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading prof Black 23% vs White 45%.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading advanced Black 2% vs Asian 25%.
- NAEP 2011 12th grade reading Black-White gap South 23 points vs Northeast 28 points.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading charter Black 275 vs traditional White 298, gap 23 points.
- NAEP 2022 12th grade reading private Black 290 vs public White 295, small gap.
- NAEP 2019 12th grade reading multiracial 295 vs Black 267, gap 28 points.
High School Reading Interpretation
While we can measure a stubborn 25-point chasm between Black and White 12th graders year after year, it's a tragically consistent national benchmark that masks the human potential and specific, solvable inequities buried within each of these disheartening figures.
Middle Math
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math Hispanic 258 vs White 292, gap 34 points; 14% Hispanic prof+ vs 37% White.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math Black 252 vs Asian 305, gap 53 points; 8% Black prof+ vs 61% Asian.
- 2019 NAEP 8th grade math Black 260 vs White 294, gap 34 points; 13% Black prof vs 41% White.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math White 292 vs Black 252, gap 40 points; 37% White prof vs 8% Black.
- 2019 NAEP 8th grade math Asian 310 vs Hispanic 263, gap 47 points; 63% API prof vs 14% Hispanic.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math prof+ Black 8% vs White 37%, gap 29 points.
- 2019 NAEP 8th grade math female Black 259 vs male White 296, gap 37 points.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math low-income Black 250 vs high-income White 305, gap 55 points.
- 2009 NAEP 8th grade math Black 260 vs Asian 312, gap 52 points.
- 2017 NAEP 8th grade math Hispanic-White gap 33 points, stable since 2003.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math Black male 251 vs White female 290, gap 39 points.
- 2019 NAEP 8th grade math prof rates: Black 13%, Hispanic 20%, White 42%.
- 2005 NAEP 8th grade math Black 263 vs White 296, gap 33 points.
- 2015 NAEP 8th grade math Native American 260 vs White 292, gap 32 points.
- 2022 NAEP 8th grade math DOE Black 253 vs non-DOE White 300, gap 47 points.
Middle Math Interpretation
These statistics form a depressingly consistent, multi-dimensional map of an educational landscape where a student's academic trajectory is still heavily pre-charted by race, income, and the compounding intersection of both.
Middle Reading
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading Black 249 vs White 274, gap 25 points; proficient 17% Black vs 40% White.
- NAEP 2019 8th grade reading Asian 289 vs Black 243, gap 46 points; advanced 13% Asian vs 1% Black.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading White 274 vs Hispanic 255, gap 19 points; basic+ 40% White vs 27% Hispanic.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading Hispanic 255 vs Asian 288, gap 33 points; 27% Hispanic basic+ vs 62% Asian.
- NAEP 2015 8th grade reading long-term Black-White gap 27 points, stable.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading Black basic 39% vs White 65%, Hispanic 50%.
- NAEP 2003-2022 8th grade reading Black-White gap widened to 26 points from 24.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading urban Black 248 vs suburban White 280, gap 32 points.
- NAEP 2019 8th grade reading ELL Hispanic 235 vs non-ELL White 278, gap 43 points.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading prof Black 17% vs White 40%.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading advanced Black 1% vs Asian 24%.
- NAEP 2011 8th grade reading Black-White gap Midwest 22 points vs West 28 points.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading charter Black 252 vs traditional White 276, gap 24 points.
- NAEP 2022 8th grade reading private Black 270 vs public White 274, small gap.
- NAEP 2019 8th grade reading multiracial 273 vs Black 243, gap 30 points.
Middle Reading Interpretation
It's a stubborn, multi-layered injustice where even the places you live and learn become predictors in an exam that seems to grade a child's opportunity more than their effort.
Sources & References
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- Reference 7RESEARCHresearch.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 8EDwww2.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 9REPORTSreports.collegeboard.orgVisit source
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- Reference 11SATSUITEsatsuite.collegeboard.orgVisit source
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- Reference 13IBOibo.orgVisit source
- Reference 14MATHEMATICAmathematica.orgVisit source
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- Reference 18AAUaau.eduVisit source
- Reference 19NCSESncses.nsf.govVisit source
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- Reference 21INSIDEHIGHEREDinsidehighered.comVisit source
- Reference 22AACNNURSINGaacnnursing.orgVisit source