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How Every State Ranks in Math and Reading Test Scores

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At a time when education is under scrutiny because of concerns over AI, a perceived literacy crisis, and learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic, test scores can provide a snapshot of student performance.

But that performance can vary widely across state lines.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a federal program that the National Assessment Governing Board called “the gold standard assessment” for gauging students’ knowledge in the US. Known as The Nation’s Report Card, the assessments are given to representative samples of public school students in each state, and results are released every two years for grades four and eight.

The most recent state-by-state data, released in January 2025, shows how students in the two grades performed in math and reading assessments in 2024 based on average scale scores ranging from 0 to 500, per the National Center for Education Statistics.

The NCES notes that scores can’t be directly compared across grades and subjects. Instead, Business Insider ranked each state separately on the four assessments: fourth-grade reading, eighth-grade reading, fourth-grade math, and eighth-grade math. We then averaged each state’s four rankings to produce an overall ranking of all states.

For some states, there is a correlation between test scores and rankings in overall education performance. Massachusetts, which was previously ranked the most educated state in a WalletHub report, had the highest average NAEP scores. Second-ranked Vermont, however, landed at No. 32 on our list for its average scores.

See how each state ranked based on its performance across the four assessments.

50. New Mexico


Buildings in Albuquerque, New Mexico.



Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 224

Math average scale score, grade 8: 256

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 201

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 245

49. Alaska




Anchorage, Alaska.

Wirestock/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 226

Math average scale score, grade 8: 264

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 202

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 246

48. West Virginia




Wheeling, West Virginia.

Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 232

Math average scale score, grade 8: 261

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 206

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 247

47. Oklahoma




Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 233

Math average scale score, grade 8: 264

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 207

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 249

46. Delaware




Wilmington, Delaware.

ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 233

Math average scale score, grade 8: 263

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 210

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 249

45. Oregon




Portland, Oregon.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 229

Math average scale score, grade 8: 268

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 207

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

44. Arkansas




Little Rock, Arkansas.

ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 230

Math average scale score, grade 8: 266

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 210

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

43. Arizona




Phoenix, Arizona.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 232

Math average scale score, grade 8: 270

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 208

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 254

42. Nevada




Las Vegas, Nevada.

f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 233

Math average scale score, grade 8: 265

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 213

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 253

41. Alabama




Birmingham, Alabama.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 236

Math average scale score, grade 8: 262

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 213

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 250

40. California




Los Angeles, California.

choness/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 233

Math average scale score, grade 8: 269

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 212

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 254

39. Maine




Portland, Maine.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 233

Math average scale score, grade 8: 273

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 210

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

38. Michigan




Detroit, Michigan.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 235

Math average scale score, grade 8: 270

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 209

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

37. Missouri




St. Louis, Missouri.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 235

Math average scale score, grade 8: 270

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 212

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

36. South Carolina




Charleston, South Carolina.

Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 268

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 215

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 254

35. Texas




Dallas, Texas.

travelview/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 241

Math average scale score, grade 8: 269

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 212

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 252

34. Louisiana




New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 235

Math average scale score, grade 8: 267

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 257

32 (tie). Vermont




Burlington, Vermont.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 235

Math average scale score, grade 8: 276

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 213

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 257

32 (tie). Kansas




Wichita, Kansas.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 237

Math average scale score, grade 8: 274

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 213

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

31. Maryland




Baltimore, Maryland.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 234

Math average scale score, grade 8: 268

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 258

30. New York




New York, New York.

f11photo/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 234

Math average scale score, grade 8: 271

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 215

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 257

29. Georgia




Atlanta, Georgia.

f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 236

Math average scale score, grade 8: 269

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 214

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 259

28. North Carolina




Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 276

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 213

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 255

27. Virginia




Richmond, Virginia.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 275

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 214

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 256

26. Mississippi




Jackson, Mississippi.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 269

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 219

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 253

25. Nebraska




Omaha, Nebraska.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 280

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 212

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 256

23 (tie). Rhode Island




Providence, Rhode Island.

Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 237

Math average scale score, grade 8: 270

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 258

23 (tie). Florida




Orlando, Florida.

Kruck20/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 243

Math average scale score, grade 8: 267

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 218

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 253

22. Iowa




Des Moines, Iowa.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 237

Math average scale score, grade 8: 275

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 215

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 261

21. Washington




Seattle, Washington.

photosvit/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 274

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 259

20. Kentucky




Louisville, Kentucky.

alexeys/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 271

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 218

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 258

18 (tie). Illinois




Chicago, Illinois.

marchello74/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 236

Math average scale score, grade 8: 277

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 214

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 262

18 (tie). Hawaii




Honolulu, Hawaii.

okimo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 270

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 257

17. Pennsylvania




Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 276

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 259

16. Tennessee




Nashville, Tennessee.

Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 240

Math average scale score, grade 8: 276

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 215

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 259

14 (tie). South Dakota




Rapid City, South Dakota.

GummyBone/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 240

Math average scale score, grade 8: 281

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 214

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 260

14 (tie). Idaho




Boise, Idaho.

Ben White/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 278

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 261

13. North Dakota




Fargo, North Dakota.

Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 241

Math average scale score, grade 8: 280

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 257

12. Montana




Billings, Montana.

George Dodd/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 238

Math average scale score, grade 8: 279

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 217

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 261

11. Wisconsin




Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jon Mattrisch/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 283

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 215

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 260

10. Minnesota




Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 241

Math average scale score, grade 8: 282

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 214

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 260

9. Ohio




Columbus, Ohio.

Sean Reid/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 279

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 216

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 260

8. Connecticut




Hartford, Connecticut.

SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 277

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 219

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 263

7. Colorado




Denver, Colorado.

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 239

Math average scale score, grade 8: 278

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 221

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 265

6. Indiana




Indianapolis, Indiana.

Nicholas Klein/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 240

Math average scale score, grade 8: 278

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 220

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 262

5. Wyoming




Casper, Wyoming.

GummyBone/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 243

Math average scale score, grade 8: 278

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 222

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 260

4. Utah




Salt Lake City, Utah.

Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 242

Math average scale score, grade 8: 282

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 219

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 261

3. New Hampshire




Concord, New Hampshire.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Math average scale score, grade 4: 242

Math average scale score, grade 8: 280

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 221

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 264

2. New Jersey




Newark, New Jersey.

Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 240

Math average scale score, grade 8: 282

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 222

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 266

1. Massachusetts




Boston, Massachusetts.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Math average scale score, grade 4: 246

Math average scale score, grade 8: 283

Reading average scale score, grade 4: 225

Reading average scale score, grade 8: 268

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