What percentage of students in New Mexico are proficient in reading?
Refreshed intermittently
About 20% of 4th graders and 19% of 8th graders in New Mexico 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.
20%
of New Mexico 4th graders were proficient in reading in 2024
19%
of New Mexico 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, 4% of 4th graders in New Mexico were advanced in reading and 16% were proficient, which means that about 4 out of 5 (80%) scored at basic or below. In 8th grade, 81% scored at basic or below.
New Mexico 4th graders in 2024 were lower than the US average in reading proficiency. 8th grade proficiency was also lower than the US.
New Mexico 4th graders in 2024 were lower than the US average in reading proficiency. 8th grade proficiency was also lower than the US.
In 2024, the percentage of New Mexico 4th graders at a proficient or advanced reading level was lower than the US average.
Percentage of students at each NAEP achievement level in 4th and 8th grade in 2024 in New Mexico 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 lower in New Mexico than the US in every test year since 1992. Among 8th graders, reading proficiency was lower in New Mexico than the US in every test year since 1998.
New Mexico 4th graders had lower reading proficiency than the US in every test year
Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in reading in New Mexico 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, white students had the highest rate of reading proficiency. This has been the case since 2013.
In 8th grade, white students also have had the highest rate of reading proficiency of all groups since 2013.
Among 4th graders in 2024, white students had the highest rate of reading proficiency. This has been the case since 2013.
In 8th grade, white students also have had the highest rate of reading proficiency of all groups since 2013.
The reading proficiency rate for white students in 4th grade is 3.7 times higher than the group with the lowest (American Indian/Alaska Native students) in 2024.
Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in reading in New Mexico, 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 (19% and 22%, respectively). However, among 8th graders, female students had higher proficiency compared to male students (22% and 16%, respectively).
How do New Mexico students compare to other states in reading proficiency?
New Mexico had the lowest 4th grade reading proficiency rate in the US in 2024. This is 20 percentage points lower than Massachusetts, the state with the highest proficiency (40%). For 8th graders, New Mexico was the lowest in reading proficiency.
New Mexico is the lowest in 4th grade reading proficiency and the lowest in 8th grade
Percentage of 4th and 8th graders in each state who were proficient in reading in 2024
How do Albuquerque 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 New Mexico - Albuquerque Public Schools.
4th grade students in Albuquerque Public Schools had a reading proficiency of 23% in 2024. This is similar to the New Mexico average, but lower than the US average.
8th grade students in Albuquerque Public Schools had a reading proficiency of 20% in 2024. This is similar to the New Mexico average, but lower than the US average.
Among the districts that participated, Albuquerque Public Schools had the 10th lowest reading proficiency rate in 4th grade, and the eighth lowest in 8th grade.
The reading proficiency rate for Albuquerque Public Schools 4th graders was lower than 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.
