Eighth-Grade Math
Performance improvements are needed to help students and the economy
No significant movement since the last available data
Benchmark: The percentage of Maine students scoring proficient and above on NAEP will reach 50% by 2030.
Overview
Eighth-grade math scores reflect foundational skills and indicate whether students are on track for college and career readiness. Math is a cornerstone of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines, which can lead to in-demand job skills and well-paid careers in growing fields. Math addresses knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and accurately gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions.
Eighth-grade math proficiency is defined as solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter, application to real-world problems, and appropriate analytical skills. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests representative samples of fourth and eighth graders every other year to allow national and state comparisons.
The proportion of Maine eighth graders meeting the NAEP math proficiency benchmark increased from 34% in 2007 to 40% in 2013 but then slid back to 34% in 2019. Maine eighth-grade math proficiency was one percentage point above the national average of 33% but trailed the New England rate of 38% by four points. Due to COVID, testing was delayed in 2021. As of publication, the results were not yet available.
Fig. A
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Percentage of 8th Graders Scoring Proficient or Above in Math
National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP); New England average is unweighted.