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Md., Va. in top 20 states ranked by test scores

May 9, 2016, 7:01 AM

The following information is provided by Graphiq and StartClass.

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State testing is among the most widely used tools for evaluating public schools, with exams given annually to students of all grade levels. Though standardized tests have a history of mishaps — most recently in Tennessee, where officials suspended elementary and middle school testing because of a failure by vendors to deliver tests on time — they remain a valued method of assessing performance.

With this in mind, StartClass ranked the states based on their performance on assessment test scores using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card.” The NAEP is America’s “largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in select subjects” and was first administered in 1969. These results are for states from the 2015 reading and math assessments for Grades 4 and 8, both deemed critical junctures in academic achievement. Results for Grade 12 from 2015 from each state have not yet been released.

States are ranked based on the average percent of students who scored proficient or above on math and reading tests for the two grades. The math assessment measures students’ knowledge and skill in mathematics and their ability to apply their knowledge in problem-solving situations. The reading assessment measures students’ reading comprehension by asking them to read grade-appropriate materials and answer questions based on what they have read.

Note: In the event of ties, the state with the higher Grade 8 math proficiency rate was ranked higher on the list.

#50. New Mexico

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 22.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 27 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 23 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 21 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 20 percent

 

 

#49. Alabama

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 24.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 26 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 17 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 26 percent

 

#48. Mississippi

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 24.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 30 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 26 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 22 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 20 percent

 

 

#47. Louisiana

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 25 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 30 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 18 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 23 percent

 

#46. West Virginia

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 27.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 33 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 30 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 21 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 27 percent

 

 

#45. California

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 28 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 29 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 28 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 27 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 28 percent

 

#44. Nevada

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 28.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 32 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 26 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 27 percent

 

 

#43. Arkansas

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 29 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 32 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 32 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 25 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 27 percent

 

#42. Oklahoma

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 30.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 33 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 23 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 29 percent

 

 

#41. South Carolina

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 30.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 36 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 33 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 26 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 28 percent

 

#40. Hawaii

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 30.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 30 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 26 prcent

 

 

#39. Michigan

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 31 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 34 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 32 percent

 

#38. Georgia

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 31.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 34 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 28 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 30 percent

 

 

#37. Alaska

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 32 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 30 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 32 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 31 percent

 

#36. Arizona

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 33.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 30 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 31 percent

 

 

#35. Tennessee

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 33.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 40 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 33 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 29 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 33 percent

 

#34. Delaware

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 33.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 30 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 31 percent

 

 

#33. New York

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 33.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 36 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 31 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 33 percent

 

#32. Texas

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 33.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 44 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 31 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 32 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 28 percent

 

 

#31. Florida

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 34.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 42 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 26 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 30 percent

 

#30. Illinois

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 34.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 32 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 35 percent

 

 

#29. Missouri

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 35.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 36 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 31 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

#28. Oregon

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 35.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 34 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 34 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

 

#27. South Dakota

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 35.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 40 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 34 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 34 percent

 

#26. Kentucky

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 36 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 40 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 40 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 28 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

 

#25. Rhode Island

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 36 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 40 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 32 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 35 percent

 

#24. Kansas

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 36 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 41 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 33 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 35 percent

 

 

#23. North Carolina

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 36.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 44 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 38 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 33 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 30 percent

 

#22. Idaho

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 36.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 36 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 34 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 37 percent

 

 

#21. Maine

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 37 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 41 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 36 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

#20. Maryland

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 37.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 40 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 37 percent

 

 

#19. Ohio

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 38.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 45 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 38 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

#18. Montana

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 38.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 41 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 37 percent

 

 

#17. Iowa

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 38.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 44 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 38 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

#16. North Dakota

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 38.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 45 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 34 percent

 

 

#15. Colorado

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 39.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 43 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 38 percent

 

#14. Wyoming

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 48 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 41 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 35 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

 

#13. Utah

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 44 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 40 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 38 percent

 

#12. Pennsylvania

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 45 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 41 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 36 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 39 percent

 

 

#11. Nebraska

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 46 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 40 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 38 percent

 

#10. Wisconsin

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 45 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 37 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 41 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 39 percent

 

 

#9. Connecticut

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 41 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 43 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 36 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 43 percent

 

#8. Washington

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 40.8 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 47 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 40 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 37 percent

 

 

#7. Virginia

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 41 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 47 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 43 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 38 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 36 percent

 

#6. Indiana

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 41.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 50 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 40 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 37 percent

 

 

#5. Vermont

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 43.5 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 43 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 45 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 42 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 44 percent

 

#4. New Jersey

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 44.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 47 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 43 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 46 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 41 percent

 

 

#3. Minnesota

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 45 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 53 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 39 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 48 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 40 percent

 

#2. New Hampshire

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 47 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

  • Grade 4 Math: 51 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 46 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 46 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 45 percent

 

 

#1. Massachusetts

 

Average percent of students at or above proficient: 50.3 percent

Percent of students at or above proficient in:

 

  • Grade 4 Math: 54 percent
  • Grade 4 Reading: 50 percent
  • Grade 8 Math: 51 percent
  • Grade 8 Reading: 46 percent

 

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