Fourth-graders in Iowa on average scored 221 on a standardized reading test administered last year, which is one point above the 2019 national average calculated by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
The Iowa students’ average score ranked in a tie for 19th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Among the fourth-graders in Iowa who took the assessment, 68 percent tested at or above the basic achievement level, while 35 percent tested at or above the proficient level, according to the analysis.
In total, fourth-graders in 17 of the jurisdictions had average scores above the national average. And 23 jurisdictions had average scores that didn’t vary significantly with the U.S. average, according to the study, while 12 posted average scores that were well below the national average.
The NAEP uses the academic results of such tests to improve public education in the U.S. The effort is carried out under the direction of the U.S. Department of Education.
—
4th-Grade Reading Scores, State by State
RankJurisdictionAverage ScorePoints Above or Below Average ScoreAt or Above Basic Achievement Level (%)At or Above Proficient Achievement (%)1Massachusetts2311276452New Jersey227872422Wyoming227773414Utah225672404Colorado225571404Florida225570387Connecticut224570407New Hampshire224571387Virginia2244693810Pennsylvania2234684010Idaho2233693712Minnesota2223693812Nebraska2223693712South Dakota2223693612Ohio2223683612Vermont2222683712Indiana2222673712Montana2222693619North Carolina2212673619Maine2212673619North Dakota2212693419Kentucky2211673519Iowa2211683524Rhode Island2201663524Maryland2200643524Wisconsin2200663624Washington2200653524New York2200663429Mississippi2190653229Kansas2190663429Tennessee2190663532Michigan218-1643232Illinois218-1643432Missouri218-1643432Georgia218-1633232Oregon218-2643432Delaware218-2623332Nevada218-2643132Hawaii218-2633440California216-3633240Oklahoma216-3632940Texas216-3613040South Carolina216-3613240Arizona216-4613145Arkansas215-4623146District of Columbia214-5573047West Virginia213-6603048Alabama212-8582849Louisiana210-10552650New Mexico208-12532451Alaska204-155325
Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress