March 24, 2010

District Schools Outpace Nation on 2009 NAEP Reading 

Contact: Jennifer Calloway | (202) 535-1096

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Michelle Rhee and State Superintendent of Education Kerri Briggs, announced today that District 4th graders achieved the largest increase nationwide on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading. Students in District public schools led the nation with a 5 point increase in 4th grade reading, while the national average was unchanged.

“Our teachers, administrators, and most of all, our students, have worked hard to improve performance in reading and mathematics,” said Mayor Fenty. “As students build skills in these areas, they develop a strong foundation for future achievement in school and at work.”

The District was one of only three jurisdictions, with Rhode Island and Kentucky, where 4th grade scores rose from 2007 to 2009. More DC students performed at or above "basic" levels than at any time since the NAEP was first administered in either grade – 44 percent in 4th grade and 50 percent in 8th grade. Results of the 2009 NAEP Reading, like the 2009 NAEP Mathematics, provide early and positive feedback on the District-wide school reform effort initiated in 2007.

"Reading is the foundation of learning; the academic progress of District students is a clear reflection of their hard work and their desire and ability to grow," said Chancellor Rhee. "We continue to stand in awe of our 4th graders who have again outpaced the nation in growth --and their teachers who have led the students to this accomplishment."

In the District, over 1,800 students in the 4th grade, or about 40 percent, and over 1600 students in the 8th grade, or about 34 percent, took the NAEP reading test.

4th Grade Performance Highlights:
• The average District score increased 5 points from 2007 to 2009. Comparatively, the national average did not increase. No state had a greater increase from 2007 to 2009 than DC.
• The percentage of students scoring Basic or above was 39 percent in 2007 and 44 percent in 2009.
• The percentage of students scoring Proficient or Advanced increased markedly, from 14 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2009.

8th Grade Performance Highlights:
• Since 2007, the average student’s score increased 1 point, consistent with gains nationwide.
• The percentage of students scoring Basic or above increased from 48 percent in 2007 to 50 percent in 2009.
• The percentage of students scoring at Proficient or Advanced was 12 percent in 2007 and 13 percent in 2009.

The NAEP, known as the Nation’s Report Card, is the only nationally representative, longitudinal tool for comparing student achievement across the country. Nationally representative samples of more than 178,000 fourth-graders and 160,000 eighth graders participated in the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading. At each grade, students responded to questions designed to measure their knowledge of reading comprehension across two types of texts: literary and informational.

The assessment is administered every two years in reading and mathematics to 4th and 8th grade students. NAEP assessments use the same sets of test booklets across the nation, and therefore provide a common metric for comparison across all states and selected urban districts. Results are citywide and represent both DCPS schools and District charter schools. Results from the 2009 Reading NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) are expected in May 2010.

“More students learning to read means more of our students can now read to learn,” said State Superintendent Briggs. “Increased reading achievement will translate into more academic success across all subjects.”

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