The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress results show Mississippi fourth graders lead the nation for gains over time, ranking No. 1 for score improvements in reading and math since 2013.

Over the same period, Mississippi eighth graders held steady in reading and math as scores nationally dropped.

The 2024 NAEP results also show Mississippi’s highest rates of students scoring proficient or advanced in all four tested grades and subjects. Known as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP measures student performance in fourth and eighth grade reading and math in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. NAEP is administered every two years.

Mississippi is one of only 13 states with gains in 4th grade math, which is the only subject and grade nationally that showed statistically significant improvements since 2022. The percentage of Mississippi fourth graders scoring proficient or advanced in math increased from 32% in 2022 to 38% in 2024, which is statistically tied to the 2024 national rate.

Mississippi fourth graders continue to stand out in reading, with the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced reaching 32%, higher than the national rate of 30%. Only one state, Massachusetts, achieved higher fourth grade reading scores than Mississippi.

“The 2024 results prove that the education reforms the state has been implementing over the past decade work. They also validate the historic gains Mississippi students first showed in 2019,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “When we keep academic standards high, focus intensely on literacy, and ensure a strong accountability system for schools and districts, student achievement improves.”

Mississippi enacted three major education reform laws in 2013 that established the state’s first state-funded pre-K program, made reading instruction a major focus in pre-K through grade 3, and mandated that schools and districts earn annual A-F grades based on their students’ progress and achievement. At that time, Mississippi fourth graders ranked No. 49 in the nation for NAEP reading scores and No. 50 for NAEP math. Today, NAEP’s unrounded rankings show Mississippi fourth grade reading scores rank No. 9 in the nation and 4th grade math scores rank No. 16.

Notably, African American, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged Mississippi 4th graders outperform their peers nationally. African American students rank No. 3 in the nation for reading and math scores, Hispanic students rank No. 1 for reading and No. 2 for math, and economically disadvantaged fourth graders rank No. 1 in reading and No. 2 for math.

As Mississippi fourth graders score at or above the national average, eigth graders continue to score below the national average.

In 2013, Mississippi eighth grade scores ranked No. 50 for reading and No. 49 for math. In 2024, eighth grade scores rank No. 41 for reading and No. 35 for math.

“While Mississippi has made tremendous progress, we need to build upon our momentum to close achievement gaps and ensure all students are proficient,” Evans said. “We have more work to do, particularly in middle school.”

NAEP scores have been falling over the past decade in most states. Despite this national trend, Mississippi is one of only a few states with improved NAEP scores over the past decade.

Mississippi’s statewide assessments support the state’s NAEP results. Student achievement has improved steadily since the current state assessments were first administered in 2016. Since that time, the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on state assessments increased from 32.6% to 47.8% in English Language Arts and from 31.1% to 56.3% in math.