New National Education Scores Released. NM Beats Mississippi.

Results for the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress test were released yesterday. See http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states for New Mexico’s results, poor as they are. In general, almost all states showed higher scores. A few, typically Mississippi and one or two others fared worse.
Reading: In 2007, the average scale score for fourth-grade students in New Mexico was 212. This was higher than their average score in 2005 (207) and was not significantly different from their average score in 1992 (211).

Math: For fourth graders, the NM average was 230. The national average was 239.
At or above basic: 72%.
At or above proficient: 26%.
At advanced 3%.
For eighth graders, the NM average was 270. The national average was 282.
At or above basic: 59%.
At or above proficient: 20%.
At advanced 3%.

Reading: For fourth graders, the NM average was 208. The national average was 220.
At or above basic: 52%.
At or above proficient: 20%.
At advanced 4%.
For eighth graders, the NM average was 254. The national average was 262.
At or above basic: 66%.
At or above proficient: 22%.
At advanced 1%.

Science: For fourth graders, the NM average was 142. The national average was 149.
At or above basic: 63%.
At or above proficient: 24%.
At advanced, the score rounds to zero, an extraordinary achievement.
For eighth graders, the NM average was 143. The national average was 149. Mississippi, Alabama and California have lower scores than New Mexico.
At or above basic: 55%.
At or above proficient: 21%.
At advanced 1%.