2017 NAEP scores show Wyoming continues to outpace nation
Cheyenne, WY. – Fourth and eighth grade students in Wyoming continue to exceed national average test scores in reading and mathematics. The Wyoming Department of Education released the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test scores for 2017 on Tuesday.
Known as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP testing is administered in all 50 states, every two years, covering the subjects of reading and mathematics. The test provides an external reference to audit, review, and compare each state’s educational program.
The state’s reading and mathematics results for the test, showed that in 4th grade math, no state performed above Wyoming’s average NAEP score in 2017. In addition, Wyoming was one of only six states with over 50 percent of students in the sample scoring proficient or advanced in grade four mathematics.
Another bright spot in the 2017 results was an increase in grade eight mathematics scores for the state’s Native American students; their increased performance in mathematics during 2017 significantly reduced the achievement gap between Native American and White students in Wyoming as previously reported in 2015.
“NAEP provides an important independent look at how our schools are doing, and these results show that Wyoming schools and students have a lot to be proud of, particularly with fourth grade math,” said State Superintendent Jillian Balow. “Wyoming spends more per student than many states, and by equitably distributing those funds, we create opportunities for every student to be successful. Teachers have the funds and the support they need to make sure curriculum is aligned to assessments and the standards. As we move to a new statewide assessment that provides more data to teachers and takes up less time in the classroom, I am confident Wyoming will continue to be a national leader in education.”
It should be noted that average reading and mathematics scores in Wyoming for both fourth and eighth grades were statistically flat when compared to the 2015 NAEP results, however the outcome should still be considered something to be proud of.
Other specific details on Wyoming’s 2017 NAEP results can be found here.
