What percentage of students in are proficient in reading?

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About 30% of 4th graders and 27% of 8th graders in North Carolina 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.

30%

of North Carolina 4th graders were proficient in reading in 2024

27%

of North Carolina 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, 9% of 4th graders in North Carolina were advanced in reading and 22% were proficient, which means that about 7 out of 10 (70%) scored at basic or below. In 8th grade, 73% scored at basic or below.

North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina was lower than the US in 2 test years (1992 and 2007). In all other test years since 1992, there was not a significant difference between North Carolina and the US. Among 8th graders, reading proficiency in North Carolina was lower than the US in 8 test years (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022). In all other test years since 1998, there was not a significant difference between North Carolina and the US.

North Carolina 4th graders had a similar level of reading proficiency as the US in 13 out of 15 test years

Percentage of 4th and 8th graders who were proficient in reading in North Carolina 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 2007.

In 8th grade, Asian/Pacific Islander students also have had the highest rate of reading proficiency of all groups since 2009.

The reading proficiency rate for Asian/Pacific Islander students in 4th grade is 3.1 times higher than the group with the lowest (Black students) in 2024.

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

Does reading proficiency differ by gender?

In 2024, female students had higher reading proficiency than male students in 4th grade (34% and 26%, respectively). However, among 8th graders, female students had similar proficiency compared to male students (29% and 25%, respectively).

How do North Carolina students compare to other states in reading proficiency?

North Carolina had the 21st lowest 4th grade reading proficiency rate in the US in 2024, in between Illinois and Nevada. This is 10 percentage points lower than Massachusetts, the state with the highest proficiency (40%). For 8th graders, North Carolina was 19th lowest in reading proficiency.

North Carolina is 21st lowest in 4th grade reading proficiency and 19th lowest in 8th grade

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

How do North Carolina’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 North Carolina: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Guilford County School District.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
4th grade students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had a reading proficiency of 31%, which is similar to the US average. 8th grade students were at 27%. Among the districts that participated, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was ninth-highest in reading proficiency in 4th grade, and sixth-highest in 8th grade.

Guilford County School District
4th grade students in Guilford County School District had a reading proficiency of 30%, which is similar to the US average. 8th grade students were at 25%. Among the districts that participated, Guilford County School District was 11th-highest in reading proficiency in 4th grade, and 11th-highest in 8th grade.

Explore how North Carolina 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.