What percentage of students in are proficient in reading?

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About 29% of 4th graders and 28% of 8th graders in California were considered proficient in reading 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.

29%

of California 4th graders were proficient in reading in 2024

28%

of California 8th graders were proficient in reading in 2024
The NAEP uses a scale of 0-500 points to group 4th and 8th 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, 7% of 4th graders in California were advanced in reading and 21% were proficient, which means that about 5 out of 7 (71%) scored at basic or below. In 8th grade, 72% scored at basic or below.

California 4th graders in 2024 were not statistically different from the US average in reading proficiency. 8th grade proficiency was also not statistically different from the US.

In 2024, the percentage of California 4th graders at a proficient or advanced reading level was similar to 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 reading proficiency changed over time?

From this point onward, “proficiency” includes students who were at or above proficient in reading (proficient and advanced students).
Among 4th graders, reading proficiency in California was lower than the US in 13 test years (1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019). In all other test years since 1992, there was not a significant difference between California and the US. Among 8th graders, reading proficiency in California was lower than the US in 11 test years (1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019). In all other test years since 1998, there was not a significant difference between California and the US.

California 4th graders had lower reading proficiency than the US in 13 out of 15 test years

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

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

Among 4th graders in 2024, Asian/Pacific Islander students had the highest rate of reading proficiency. This has been the case since 2015.

In 8th grade, Asian/Pacific Islander students also have had the highest rate of reading proficiency of all groups since 2011.

The reading proficiency rate for Asian/Pacific Islander students in 4th grade is 6.7 times higher than the group with the lowest (Black students) in 2024.

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

Does reading proficiency differ by gender?

In 2024, there was not a significant difference in reading proficiency between male and female students in 4th grade (27% and 31%, respectively). The same was true for 8th graders.

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

California had the 17th lowest 4th grade reading proficiency rate in the US in 2024, in between North Dakota and Kansas. This is 12 percentage points lower than Massachusetts, the state with the highest proficiency (40%). For 8th graders, California was 24th lowest in reading proficiency.

California is 17th lowest in 4th grade reading proficiency and 24th lowest in 8th grade

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

How do California’s school districts compare to other districts in reading 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 reading proficiency of 25%, which is lower than the US average. 8th grade students were at 22%. Among the districts that participated, Los Angeles Unified School District was 11th-lowest in reading proficiency in 4th grade, and 11th-lowest in 8th grade.

San Diego Unified School District
4th grade students in San Diego Unified School District had a reading proficiency of 39%, which is higher than the US average. 8th grade students were at 37%. Among the districts that participated, San Diego Unified School District was the highest in reading proficiency in 4th grade, and the 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 reading in 2024

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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.