Academic Test Scores
Specific Measure
Average scale scores of eighth graders taking the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in math, reading, science, civics, and US history. Funded and managed by the federal government, the NAEP is a low-stakes test administered every few years to a representative sample of the nation’s schools.
(Source: National Center for Education Statistics).
How does the US rank globally?
- Specific Measure: Average scaled scores of 15-year-olds on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).
(Source: Authors’ analysis of Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development data).
- Percentage of countries the US outperforms:
- Math: 27% (out of 33 countries)
- Reading: 86% (out of 37 countries)
- Science: 74% (out of 47 countries)
- International Rank Trend:
- Math: Stable
- Reading: Improving
- Science: Improving
National Trend Mixed
For more information about data sources and treatments, download the Data Notes.