It’s a sobering reality that in the 2022 NAEP reading assessment, only 33% of U.S. fourth-grade public school students scored at or above the proficient level in reading comprehension.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022 NAEP reading assessment, 33% of U.S. fourth-grade public school students scored at or above the proficient level in reading comprehension
- The 2019 NAEP showed that 35% of U.S. eighth-grade students performed at or above proficient in reading comprehension tasks involving inference and analysis
- According to NAEP 2022, only 13% of U.S. 12th-grade students reached the proficient level or higher in reading comprehension of complex literary texts
- PIRLS 2021 found that 76% of U.S. fourth-graders reached the low international benchmark or above in reading comprehension
- In PISA 2018, U.S. 15-year-olds scored 505 in reading, above OECD average of 487, indicating solid comprehension skills
- PIRLS 2016: U.S. fourth-graders averaged 527 in reading literacy, ranking 7th internationally for comprehension at advanced levels
- In NAEP 2022, Black U.S. fourth-graders scored 198 in reading comprehension, 37 points below White peers at 235
- Hispanic U.S. eighth-graders averaged 252 in NAEP 2019 reading, 28 points lower than White students at 280
- NAEP 2022: Female U.S. fourth-graders outperformed males by 8 points (221 vs 213) in reading comprehension
- In grade 4 NAEP 2022, U.S. students scored average 217 in reading comprehension, down from 220 in 2019
- NAEP 2022 grade 8 U.S. reading average 260, 3 points decline, with 30% proficient in comprehension
- Grade 12 NAEP 2019 U.S. reading score 285, 37% at basic or above for complex comprehension tasks
- Reading Recovery program boosted first-graders' comprehension by 1.5 grade levels in 12 weeks
- Leveled Literacy Intervention raised kindergartners' reading comprehension scores by 20 percentiles in 18 weeks
- Reciprocal Teaching improved middle schoolers' reading comprehension by 25% on standardized tests
Reading comprehension scores are declining across U.S. grade levels.
Demographic Variations
- In NAEP 2022, Black U.S. fourth-graders scored 198 in reading comprehension, 37 points below White peers at 235
- Hispanic U.S. eighth-graders averaged 252 in NAEP 2019 reading, 28 points lower than White students at 280
- NAEP 2022: Female U.S. fourth-graders outperformed males by 8 points (221 vs 213) in reading comprehension
- Low-income U.S. 12th-graders scored 264 in NAEP 2019 reading, 39 points below high-income at 303
- NAEP 2022 English learners scored 186 in fourth-grade reading comprehension, 31 points below non-EL at 217
- White U.S. eighth-graders NAEP 2022 average 276 in reading, Black at 246, gap of 30 points persistent since 1992
- NAEP 2019: Male U.S. 12th-graders scored 280 vs females 290 in reading comprehension, 10-point gap
- Students with disabilities U.S. fourth-grade NAEP 2022: 109 score in reading, 108 points below non-disabled average
- Asian/Pacific Islander U.S. eighth-graders NAEP 2022: 282 in reading comprehension, 20 points above national average
- NAEP 2022: Rural U.S. fourth-graders scored 214 in reading, 3 points below city students at 217
- Free/reduced-price lunch eligible U.S. 12th-graders NAEP 2019: 21% proficient in reading vs 43% non-eligible
- NAEP 2022 Native American fourth-graders: 204 reading score, 13 points below national average of 217
- Female advantage in PISA 2018 U.S. reading: 27 points, consistent across socioeconomic quartiles
- NAEP 2019 urban U.S. eighth-graders scored 267 in reading, suburban 271, rural 260
- Multiracial U.S. fourth-graders NAEP 2022: 215 reading comprehension score, near national average
- High SES U.S. 12th-graders NAEP 2022: 40% proficient or above in reading vs 15% low SES
- NAEP 2022 male eighth-graders: 260 score, females 271, gap widened post-pandemic
- English learners in PIRLS 2016 U.S.: 20% below low benchmark in fourth-grade reading comprehension
- NAEP 2015 Black-White reading gap for U.S. fourth-graders: 27 points, narrowed from 44 in 1971
- Low-income Asian U.S. students NAEP 2022: still outperformed other low-income groups by 15 points in reading
- Suburban U.S. 12th-graders NAEP 2019: 37% proficient in reading comprehension vs 22% large city
- NAEP 2022 females across races averaged 10-12 points higher than males in fourth-grade reading
- Students with IEPs U.S. eighth-grade NAEP 2022: 50% below basic in reading comprehension
- In NAEP 2022, U.S. fourth-grade city students scored 217 in reading, matching national average despite diversity
- PIRLS 2021 U.S. low SES fourth-graders: 30% at or above advanced benchmark vs 50% high SES
- NAEP 2019 NA/PI eighth-graders: 245 score, 31 points below White peers in comprehension
- U.S. fourth-grade reading NAEP 2022: Charter school students scored 218, traditional public 216
Demographic Variations Interpretation
The sobering data reveals an education system where a student's zip code, family income, race, native language, and even gender remain stubbornly accurate predictors of their reading future, suggesting that the promise of equal opportunity is, for now, still more of a myth than a reality.
Grade-Level Performance
- In grade 4 NAEP 2022, U.S. students scored average 217 in reading comprehension, down from 220 in 2019
- NAEP 2022 grade 8 U.S. reading average 260, 3 points decline, with 30% proficient in comprehension
- Grade 12 NAEP 2019 U.S. reading score 285, 37% at basic or above for complex comprehension tasks
- Kindergarten ECLS-K data 2010: 82% recognized letters, foundational for later reading comprehension
- Grade 3 NAEP Trial Urban District 2019: Average reading score 207, 28% proficient in inference skills
- U.S. grade 5 reading on NWEA MAP 2022 average RIT 215, indicating mid-year comprehension level
- Grade 7 NAEP-like state assessments 2021: 35% proficient in analyzing text structures for comprehension
- Grade 1 DIBELS ORF 2022 national: 70 words/min accuracy, correlating to comprehension readiness
- NAEP grade 4 1992 baseline: 217 score, stable until pandemic drops in comprehension metrics
- Grade 10 PSAT 2022 reading section: Average 480 score, 45% meeting college-ready comprehension benchmarks
- Grade 6 state tests 2023: 42% proficient in main idea identification across U.S. samples
- Grade 2 Aimsweb RCBM 2022: National median 72 words/min, benchmark for comprehension development
- NAEP grade 8 2011 peak: 267 score before declines in advanced reading comprehension
- Grade 11 ACT 2022 reading benchmark: 22 average, 40% college-ready in comprehension of arguments
- Grade K STAR Reading 2022: National average 312 scaled score, early comprehension predictor
- Grade 9 state ELA 2022: 36% proficient in citing evidence for comprehension claims
- Grade 3 i-Ready diagnostics 2023: 50th percentile reading 515, tied to comprehension growth
- NAEP grade 12 2005: 286 peak score in reading comprehension before stagnation
- Grade 5 PARCC 2019: 35% met expectations in reading comprehension of literary texts
- Grade 7 Smarter Balanced 2022: 38% at level 3+ in determine central ideas comprehension
- Grade 1 Fountas & Pinnell 2022 benchmark: Level I average, 80% comprehension accuracy
- Grade 10 SAT Evidence-Based Reading 2022: 529 average, down 10 points impacting comprehension scores
- Grade 4 PIRLS 2021 U.S.: 522 score, strong at intermediate comprehension levels
- Grade 6 Lexile national 2022: 900L average, matching texts for comprehension proficiency
- Grade 8 NAEP 2022: 26% proficient in critique and evaluate author decisions in reading
- Grade 2 DRA2 2022: Level 28 average, 75% retell comprehension benchmark
- Grade 11 AP English Lit 2022: 56% passed with 3+ demonstrating advanced comprehension
- Grade 3 Renaissance STAR 2023: 650 scaled score median for on-grade comprehension
- Grade 9 ACT Aspire 2022: 420 average reading, 32% ready for college comprehension tasks
- Grade 5 NWEA MAP Growth 2022: 8 points typical growth in reading comprehension RIT
- Grade 7 state assessments 2021: 40% proficient in compare/contrast texts comprehension
- Grade K DIBELS LNF 2022: 50+ letters/min for comprehension foundation
- Grade 12 NAEP 2022: 278 average, focus on workplace-relevant comprehension skills
- Grade 4 SBAC 2019: 33% met standard in explain events sequence for comprehension
Grade-Level Performance Interpretation
Our reading comprehension scores are stuck in a grim, multi-grade limbo where we're largely teaching kids to decode the words but not to truly wrestle with the ideas, leaving them stranded at the intermediate level just when they should be learning to think.
Improvement Programs
- Reading Recovery program boosted first-graders' comprehension by 1.5 grade levels in 12 weeks
- Leveled Literacy Intervention raised kindergartners' reading comprehension scores by 20 percentiles in 18 weeks
- Reciprocal Teaching improved middle schoolers' reading comprehension by 25% on standardized tests
- Orton-Gillingham phonics intervention increased grade 3 comprehension accuracy by 35% in 6 months
- Summer reading programs like RIF improved low-income students' comprehension retention by 15% over summer slide
- Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) boosted grade 4 comprehension effect size d=0.55 per meta-analysis
- Lexia Core5 program advanced ELL students' reading comprehension by 2x growth rate in RCT study
- Book Buddies one-on-one tutoring raised grade 1 comprehension from 40% to 75% proficiency
- Accelerated Reader increased high school comprehension gains by 0.23 effect size in 20 studies
- Wilson Reading System improved dyslexic students' comprehension scores by 40% post-intervention
- Dialogic Reading enhanced preschoolers' narrative comprehension by 24% in vocabulary-linked tasks
- Read 180 program lifted grade 6-12 comprehension percentiles by 20-30 points in efficacy trials
- Fluency passages practice raised grade 2 comprehension from 62% to 85% accuracy
- Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) improved 5th-grade science text comprehension by 0.4 SD
- i-Ready Personalized Instruction grew grade 3 reading comprehension by 1.2x expected rate
- Corrective Reading program advanced low performers' comprehension by 0.79 effect size
- Vocabulary Intervention Project increased grade 4 comprehension via word learning by 18%
- Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) raised persuasive reading comprehension by 35% in elementary
- Reading Mastery Signature improved K-5 comprehension effect size d=0.52 in What Works review
- Headsprout online reading gained 0.63 SD in comprehension for struggling readers
- Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) boosted comprehension 0.88 effect size
- Phonics-based Success for All raised grade 3 comprehension by 0.2 SD annually
- Questioning the Author strategy improved 6th-grade comprehension inference by 22%
- DreamBox Reading accelerated comprehension growth by 25% for K-3 in blended learning
- Lindamood-Bell Visualizing/Verbalizing raised comprehension IQ equivalents by 20 points
- Benchmark Education's interventions improved ELL comprehension by 1 grade level in 9 months
- Strategic Literacy Intervention gained 0.45 effect size in middle school reading comprehension
- Reading Recovery follow-up: 80% of grade 1 interveners maintained average comprehension at grade 3
Improvement Programs Interpretation
Despite this impressive menu of interventions, each showing measurable gains in reading comprehension across various ages and challenges, we are reminded that the most potent catalyst for literacy remains a human being—whether teacher, tutor, or peer—who can thoughtfully match the method to the individual reader’s moment of need.
International Data
- PIRLS 2021 found that 76% of U.S. fourth-graders reached the low international benchmark or above in reading comprehension
- In PISA 2018, U.S. 15-year-olds scored 505 in reading, above OECD average of 487, indicating solid comprehension skills
- PIRLS 2016: U.S. fourth-graders averaged 527 in reading literacy, ranking 7th internationally for comprehension at advanced levels
- PISA 2022 preliminary: U.S. reading score dropped to 504 from 505 in 2018, below top performers like Singapore at 543
- PIRLS 2021: 35% of U.S. fourth-graders achieved advanced international benchmark in retrieving explicitly stated information
- In PISA 2015, U.S. students scored 497 in reading, with 12% at top proficiency levels for complex comprehension
- PIRLS 2011: U.S. fourth-graders scored 556 in literary reading comprehension, highest among participant nations
- PISA 2018: 76% of U.S. 15-year-olds attained at least Level 2 reading proficiency for basic comprehension
- PIRLS 2021 international average for fourth-grade reading was 500; U.S. at 522 for informational text comprehension
- PISA 2022: Singapore topped reading at 543, while U.S. at 504 showed 80% of students capable of basic inference in texts
- PIRLS 2016: Only 8% of U.S. fourth-graders reached the highest PIRLS benchmark in multiple inferential comprehension
- In PISA 2012, U.S. reading score was 498, with gender gap of 27 points favoring females in comprehension
- PIRLS 2021: Russian Federation led at 567; U.S. fourth-graders 45 points below in overall reading comprehension
- PISA 2018 data: U.S. students' reading performance equivalent to 1.5 years behind top nations like China (Beijing-Shanghai) at 518
- PIRLS 2006: U.S. fourth-graders scored 542 in reading, 2nd globally, excelling in straightforward inferential comprehension
- PISA 2009: U.S. 15-year-olds averaged 500 in reading literacy, with 13% failing basic comprehension thresholds
- PIRLS 2011: 21% of U.S. fourth-graders at low benchmark in interpreting and integrating ideas for comprehension
- PISA 2022: OECD average reading score 476, U.S. 504 with 25% of students at Level 4+ for evaluating texts
- PIRLS 2021: U.S. ranked 12th out of 57 countries in fourth-grade reading comprehension at intermediate benchmark
- In PISA 2015, Finland scored 526 in reading vs. U.S. 497, gap in advanced comprehension tasks of 15 percentage points
- PIRLS 2016 U.S. data: 77% above low benchmark in retrieving and reproducing information from texts
- PISA 2018: Ireland at 518 outperformed U.S. 505 by 13 points in reading comprehension involving plausibility judgment
- PIRLS 2021: Sweden's fourth-graders scored 537 vs. U.S. 522, better in advanced literary comprehension by 10%
- PISA 2000: U.S. reading score 504, similar to today, but top performers like Korea at 525 excelled in reflection tasks
- PIRLS 2001 inaugural: U.S. second at 552, strong in comprehension of narrative purposes
International Data Interpretation
The data reveals a persistent American paradox: our students are reliably above average at the foundational level, yet we chronically fail to cultivate the elite comprehension skills that separate the globally competitive from the merely competent.
US National Data
- In the 2022 NAEP reading assessment, 33% of U.S. fourth-grade public school students scored at or above the proficient level in reading comprehension
- The 2019 NAEP showed that 35% of U.S. eighth-grade students performed at or above proficient in reading comprehension tasks involving inference and analysis
- According to NAEP 2022, only 13% of U.S. 12th-grade students reached the proficient level or higher in reading comprehension of complex literary texts
- In 2022, the average NAEP reading score for U.S. fourth-graders was 217, a decline of 5 points from 2019, impacting comprehension skills
- NAEP 2022 data indicated that 40% of U.S. fourth-grade students scored below basic in reading comprehension
- The 2017 NAEP long-term trend assessment found that 17-year-olds' average reading comprehension score was 285, unchanged since 1971
- In NAEP 2022, 52% of U.S. eighth-graders performed below the basic level in reading comprehension of informational texts
- NAEP results from 2022 showed a 7-point decline in average reading scores for U.S. 12th-graders since 2015, affecting comprehension depth
- 2022 NAEP data revealed that 31% of U.S. public school fourth-graders were proficient in reading comprehension involving vocabulary in context
- The NAEP 2019 assessment indicated that 27% of U.S. eighth-graders scored proficient or above in evaluating arguments in reading passages
- NAEP 2022 reported that U.S. fourth-grade reading comprehension gaps between high and low performers widened to 45 scale points
- In the 2022 NAEP, 18% of U.S. 12th-graders demonstrated advanced reading comprehension skills in synthesizing information across texts
- NAEP 2022 data for eighth-graders showed 37% at basic level in reading comprehension, unable to infer beyond explicit text
- The average NAEP reading score for U.S. 12th-graders in 2019 was 285, with comprehension of historical texts at 72% accuracy for proficient students
- NAEP 2022 indicated a 3-point drop in fourth-grade reading comprehension scores for students eligible for free/reduced lunch
- In 2015 NAEP, 34% of U.S. eighth-graders were proficient in reading comprehension tasks requiring critique of author purpose
- NAEP long-term trends 2020 showed 13-year-olds' reading comprehension score at 260, down 4 points from 2020 pre-pandemic
- 2022 NAEP data for U.S. fourth-graders: 25% proficient in locating and recalling specific details in reading passages
- NAEP 2019 eighth-grade results: average comprehension score for literary experience questions was 262
- In NAEP 2022, U.S. 12th-grade students averaged 278 in reading comprehension of science-related texts
- NAEP 2022 fourth-grade subgroup data: Asian students scored 240 in reading comprehension, 23 points above national average
- 2017 NAEP showed 29% of U.S. eighth-graders proficient in reading comprehension involving multimedia elements
- NAEP 2022 reported 44% of U.S. fourth-graders below basic in integrating ideas within texts for comprehension
- Average NAEP reading score for U.S. 12th-graders in 2015 was 287, with 15% advanced in deep comprehension tasks
- NAEP 2019 data: 36% of eighth-graders at proficient level in reading comprehension of persuasive texts
- In 2022 NAEP, U.S. fourth-grade Black students' average reading comprehension score was 198, 19 points below average
- NAEP long-term trend 1971-2012 for 17-year-olds: reading comprehension stability at 285 scale score average
- 2022 NAEP eighth-grade: 28% proficient in analyzing development of central ideas in reading passages
- NAEP 2022 12th-grade: Hispanic students scored 263 in reading comprehension, 22 points below non-Hispanic white peers
- In 2019 NAEP, 32% of U.S. fourth-graders demonstrated proficiency in reading comprehension of narrative structures
US National Data Interpretation
Our students' reading comprehension appears to be on a troubling trajectory where, much like a poorly planned diet, they start with a modestly unsatisfying appetizer in fourth grade, are served a bland and shrinking entrée by eighth grade, and are left intellectually malnourished by a shockingly insubstantial dessert in twelfth grade.
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