Fourth-Grade Reading
In 2024, the percentage of Maine 4th graders who were proficient in reading rose 4 percentage points to 33% but were below national standards.
Favorable movement since the last available data
Benchmark: The percentage of Maine students scoring proficient and above on NAEP will reach 50% by 2030.
Overview
In 2024, 33% of Maine 4th graders met the reading proficiency benchmark of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This was an improvement from 29% in 2022 but below the national average of 39%. By this measure, Maine ranked 44th lowest of the 50 states. Before COVID, Maine ranked at or above the national average. A sample of 1,900 Maine 4th graders took the assessment.
Fourth-grade reading scores are an indicator of future outcomes like educational attainment, employment, and earnings. Fourth-grade reading proficiency is defined as solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter, application to real-world problems, and appropriate analytical skills. The NAEP tests representative samples of fourth and eighth graders every other year to allow national and state comparisons.
Fig. A
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Percentage of 4th Graders Scoring Proficient or Above in Reading
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP); New England average is unweighted.