BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland student achievement scores on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed modest improvement in mathematics and continued progress in reading.

The Nation’s Report Card, a congressionally mandated biennial assessment, measures student achievement in fourth and eighth-grade reading and math nationwide. While Maryland’s scores have declined over the past decade, this year’s results show some stabilization.

Reading scores remained steady, mirroring trends observed in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) proficiency rates. In math, the youngest learners showed signs of rebounding.

“We still have a long way to go, but there’s reason to feel hopeful about our results,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. He highlighted the state’s investments in literacy initiatives based on the Science of Reading and expressed confidence in continued improvement.

Dr. Joshua Michael, State Board of Education President, echoed this sentiment, stating that the results signal positive returns on the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an education reform plan. He pointed to the promising results in early literacy as evidence of the effectiveness of targeted investments.

The State Board has set an ambitious goal for Maryland to reach the top 10 in national reading rankings by 2027. While acknowledging that pre-pandemic levels have not yet been regained, officials noted that Maryland improved its ranking among other states in each grade and subject.

• Grade 4 Reading: Moved up to 20 from 40
• Grade 8 Reading: Moved up to 21 from 25
• Grade 4 Mathematics: Moved up to 39 from 42
• Grade 8 Mathematics: Moved up to 38 from 42

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has secured significant funding to support its literacy and mathematics initiatives. These include a $6.85 million grant from the Ibis Group for professional development in the Science of Reading for over 5,000 educators and a $40.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support third-grade literacy proficiency. This initiative aims to help students reach key literacy milestones and ensure equitable access to quality instruction and resources.

The MSDE is also partnering with organizations like Arnold Ventures, Saga Education, and the Walton Family Foundation to implement comprehensive improvements in mathematics and reading instruction.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. The assessment is given to a nationally representative sample of students in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., DoDEA, and select urban school districts. Each state tests approximately 3,000 students per grade-subject.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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