COLUMBIA, SC - November 1, 2011 - While South Carolina eighth graders improved their scores in reading and mathematics, fourth graders’ performance in reading slightly declined and slightly improved in mathematics on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Ranked by scale score, South Carolina is 39th in fourth grade reading (no change from 2009), 38th in eighth grade reading (improvement of 4 spots from 2009), 37th in fourth grade mathematics (improvement of 1 spot from 2009), and 34th in eighth grade mathematics (decline of 1 spot from 2009).
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The NAEP is based on a random sample of students, so a ranking is not appropriate -- only a randomly selected group took the test. (Sort of like a Gallup Poll.) If the standard error is plus or minus two points, one could say that average reading score for SC 4th grade black students are essentially tied with Minnesota, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and ahead of seven other states including Wisconsis, Maine, Iowa, and Michigan. This is the ONLY nationwide test that has close to a representative sample of students, so unlike tests anyone can take (like the SAT), the NAEP does give a reasonable estimate of how state averages compare. So South Carolina is by no means at the bottom of the heap, but sort of low average. Not bad for a poor state with high unemployment.
John Sharp
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