What percentage of students in are proficient in math?

Refreshed intermittently
About 35% of 4th graders and 25% of 8th graders in California were considered proficient in math in 2024, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP, also known as the Nation's Report Card, assesses 4th and 8th graders' progress in reading and math approximately every two years. Students in public, private, and charter schools are included in NAEP testing.

35%

of California 4th graders were proficient in math in 2024

25%

of California 8th graders were proficient in math in 2024
The NAEP uses a scale of 0-500 points to group 4th and 8th grade students into three achievement levels (basic, proficient, or advanced). "Proficient" is the benchmark used to describe students who demonstrate competency with challenging subject matter. However, NAEP proficiency is not the same as being on "grade level," which is often assessed by other state and district tests. More information on NAEP skill expectations at each grade level is available here.
In 2024, 8% of 4th graders in California were advanced in math and 27% were proficient, which means that about 2 out of 3 (65%) scored at basic or below. Seventy-five percent of 8th graders scored at basic or below.

California 4th graders in 2024 were lower than the US average in math proficiency. 8th grade proficiency was not significantly different from the US.

In 2024, the percentage of California 4th graders at a proficient or advanced math level was lower than the US average.

Percentage of students at each NAEP achievement level in 4th and 8th grade in 2024 in California and the US

How has math proficiency changed over time?

From this point onward, “proficiency” includes students who were at or above proficient in math (proficient and advanced students).
Among 4th graders, math proficiency was lower in California than the US in every test year since 2003. Among 8th graders, math proficiency in California was lower than the US in 10 test years (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022). In all other test years since 2003, there was not a significant difference between California and the US.

California 4th graders had lower math proficiency than the US in every test year

Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in math in California and the US, 1992–2024

Math proficiency has also varied over time for students of varying demographics. This is often referred to as the achievement gap.

Get weekly insights

Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.

Among 4th graders in 2024, Asian/Pacific Islander students had the highest rate of math proficiency. This has been the case since 2017.

In 8th grade, Asian/Pacific Islander students also have had the highest rate of math proficiency of all groups since 1992.

The math proficiency rate for Asian/Pacific Islander students in 4th grade is 6.1 times higher than the group with the lowest (Black students) in 2024.

Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in math in California, by race/ethnicity, 1992–2024

Does math proficiency differ by gender?

In 2024, male students had higher math proficiency than female students in 4th grade (38% and 31%, respectively). The same was true for 8th graders.

How do California students compare to other states in math proficiency?

California had the 10th lowest 4th grade math proficiency rate in the US in 2024, in between Delaware and Louisiana. This is 16 percentage points lower than Massachusetts, the state with the highest proficiency (51%). For 8th graders, California was 22nd lowest in math proficiency.

California is 10th lowest in 4th grade math proficiency and 22nd lowest in 8th grade

Percentage of 4th and 8th graders in each state who were proficient in math in 2024

How do California’s school districts compare to other districts in math proficiency?

The NAEP collected data in a subset of the nation's largest urban school districts (26 total) in 2024. Two of these districts are in California: Los Angeles Unified School District and San Diego Unified School District.

Los Angeles Unified School District

4th grade students in Los Angeles Unified School District had a math proficiency of 27%, which is lower than the US average. 8th grade students were at 18%. Among the districts that participated, Los Angeles Unified School District was 10th-lowest in math proficiency in 4th grade, and 12th-lowest in 8th grade.


San Diego Unified School District

4th grade students in San Diego Unified School District had a math proficiency of 41%, which is similar to the US average. 8th grade students were at 31%. Among the districts that participated, San Diego Unified School District was fifth-highest in math proficiency in 4th grade, and second-highest in 8th grade.

Explore how California school districts compare to other districts and the US as a whole

Percentage of 4th and 8th grade students in each district who were proficient in math in 2024

Keep exploring

Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.