Later this month we will see the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card. So, just before the state votes in the election for Secretary of the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsinites will know if academic performance is continuing to slide here.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress is a congressionally-mandated project that assesses what America’s students know and can do in various subjects. Unlike state tests, the NAEP provides a national benchmark, measuring student achievement in reading, mathematics, science, and other subjects for grades 4, 8, and occasionally 12. It’s designed to offer insights into educational outcomes across states, urban districts, and demographic groups, but it does not provide scores for individual schools or students.
Tracing back the timeline:
- 2017: Wisconsin’s performance was lackluster, with scores remaining flat. Fourth-grade reading scores saw a statistically significant decline from 2015, while eighth graders were slightly above the national average in both reading and mathematics. However, this year highlighted a troubling trend: Wisconsin had one of the widest achievement gaps between Black and white students in the nation.
- 2019: The scores held steady, but again, with no significant improvement from the previous periods. Wisconsin eighth graders did outperform many states, yet the state’s persistent racial achievement gap was once more the widest in the country, signaling a deep-seated educational disparity.
- 2022: While fourth graders managed to keep their scores relatively stable compared to 2019, eighth graders saw significant declines, particularly in reading. Despite ranking high in some metrics, once demographics were accounted for, Wisconsin’s performance was less commendable, with the state still grappling with one of the largest achievement gaps in the U.S.
Over these eight years, the consistent theme has been a lack of progress or, at times, regression in student performance. The state’s scores, when not adjusted for demographics, might give the impression of solid performance, but this overlooks the stark disparities among different student groups.
The 2024 assessments for grades 4, 8, and 12 in reading and mathematics, along with grade 8 science, were tested during the window from January 29 to March 8, 2024. These results should be public later this month.
Will Wisconsin finally see a turnaround in its educational outcomes, or will we continue to report on a system that leaves many students behind? The state’s educators, policymakers, and concerned parents are watching with bated breath, hoping for signs of recovery but braced for more of the same disheartening statistics.
We’ll have all the results, here, later this month.
1.14.2025
