What percentage of students in Massachusetts are proficient in reading?
Refreshed intermittently
About 40% of 4th graders and 40% of 8th graders in Massachusetts 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.
40%
of Massachusetts 4th graders were proficient in reading in 2024
40%
of Massachusetts 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, 15% of 4th graders in Massachusetts were advanced in reading and 26% were proficient, which means that about 3 out of 5 (60%) scored at basic or below. In 8th grade, 60% scored at basic or below.
Massachusetts 4th graders in 2024 were higher than the US average in reading proficiency. 8th grade proficiency was also higher than the US.
Massachusetts 4th graders in 2024 were higher than the US average in reading proficiency. 8th grade proficiency was also higher than the US.
In 2024, the percentage of Massachusetts 4th graders at a proficient or advanced reading level was higher than the US average.
Percentage of students at each NAEP achievement level in 4th and 8th grade in 2024 in Massachusetts 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 was higher in Massachusetts than the US in every test year since 1992. Among 8th graders, reading proficiency was higher in Massachusetts than the US in every test year since 1998.
Massachusetts 4th graders had higher reading proficiency than the US in every test year
Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in reading in Massachusetts and the US, 1992–2024
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
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 2022.
In 8th grade, Asian/Pacific Islander students also have had the highest rate of reading proficiency of all groups since 2015.
Among 4th graders in 2024, Asian/Pacific Islander students had the highest rate of reading proficiency. This has been the case since 2022.
In 8th grade, Asian/Pacific Islander students also have had the highest rate of reading proficiency of all groups since 2015.
The reading proficiency rate for Asian/Pacific Islander students in 4th grade is 2.8 times higher than the group with the lowest (Hispanic students) in 2024.
Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in reading in Massachusetts, 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 (38% and 43%, respectively). However, among 8th graders, female students had higher proficiency compared to male students (43% and 37%, respectively).
How do Massachusetts students compare to other states in reading proficiency?
Massachusetts had the highest 4th grade reading proficiency rate in the US in 2024. This is 2 percentage points higher than the state with the next highest proficiency, New Jersey. For 8th graders, Massachusetts was the highest in reading proficiency.
Massachusetts is the highest in 4th grade reading proficiency and the highest in 8th grade
Percentage of 4th and 8th graders in each state who were proficient in reading in 2024
How do Boston Public Schools students 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. One of these districts is in Massachusetts - Boston Public Schools.
4th grade students in Boston Public Schools had a reading proficiency of 31% in 2024. This is lower than the Massachusetts average, but similar to the US average.
8th grade students in Boston Public Schools had a reading proficiency of 26% in 2024. This is lower than both the Massachusetts and US averages.
Among the districts that participated, Boston Public Schools had the 10th highest reading proficiency rate in 4th grade, and the ninth highest in 8th grade.
The reading proficiency rate for Boston Public Schools 4th graders was similar to the US average
Percentage of 4th and 8th grade students in each district who were proficient in reading 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.
