Results from the 2004 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend assessment were just released. This unique source of data reports on national trends in reading since 1971 and in mathematics since 1973.

Some results…

Nine-year-old students scored higher on average in both subjects in 2004 than in any previous assessment year.

Thirteen-year-old students scored higher in mathematics in 2004 than in any previous assessment year. Reading scores remain statisticallyunchanged from the last assessment in 1999.

Overall performance of 17-year-old students in both subjects remainedstatistically unchanged; however, Black and Hispanic student groups made progress in comparison to the first assessment year.

Many of the differences in achievement between Black or Hispanic students and their White counterparts have narrowed, as the average scores for minority student groups have increased over time.

For full results please visit the NCES NAEP Website