OSPI NEWS RELEASE: On National Test, Washington Students Continue to Perform on Par or Better Than Their Peers, but 8th Grade Math is a Significant Challenge

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 01/29/2025 09:19 AM PST

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On National Test, Washington Students Continue to Perform on Par or Better Than Their Peers, but 8th Grade Math is a Significant Challenge

OLYMPIA—January 29, 2025—Today, the National Center for Education Statistics released results from the 2024 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

NAEP is the country’s only assessment of student achievement where comparisons can be drawn between states and long-term trends can be observed. The assessment, which measures student progress in 4th and 8th grade math and reading, takes place every two years and includes a statistically representative sample of students across the country.

The 2024 results show that only 5 states performed statistically significantly higher than Washington’s students in 4th grade reading, 4 states in 4th grade math, and 4 states in 8th grade reading; but 14 states in 8th grade math, a measurable decline for Washington’s middle school students.

“I am proud that our students continue to outperform many of their peers across the nation,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “This assessment is the only reliable tool we have to compare our progress with the country, and there are very few states that outperform Washington’s students. However, the overall results for the nation and Washington are not good enough.”

“One area that is a significant concern is 8th grade math,” Reykdal continued. “Over the last several rounds of the NAEP administration, we have seen our students make progress in math from 4th to 8th grade compared to other states. This year, however, we see the opposite: Our fourth graders made gains in math, while our eighth graders lost ground.”

“As a whole, American students perform exceedingly well in reading on international exams, but are comparatively average in math,” Reykdal said. “All the data compels us to take a much deeper examination of our approach to math in late elementary and middle school. For Washington state to maintain our economic excellence in software, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and other sectors, we have to make significant gains in elementary and middle school math in order to set up our students for maximum success in high school and beyond!"

To make progress, Superintendent Reykdal has an initial plan: fully fund basic education, prioritize regional professional development work, increase investments in the state’s Learning Assistance Program, and dedicate more instructional time to math in elementary school.

“This legislative session, I put forward funding proposals to make gains in multiple critical areas,” Reykdal said. “Our schools are doing the best they can to battle the effects of inflation while maintaining high-quality programming and services for students, but we can’t expect them to hold the line year after year with no relief in sight. There is no question that state funding in public education has not kept pace with the real costs of providing services, and my proposals aim to close those gaps.”

Second, to support student learning across the state, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) works in partnership with the nine regional educational service districts on a host of educational services and supports. Superintendent Reykdal will be having regional math efforts prioritize professional learning opportunities for educators in effective math instruction in grades 5–8.

In addition, Superintendent Reykdal has proposed an expansion to the Learning Assistance Program (LAP), which is designed to provide supplemental learning supports for students experiencing poverty who are not yet meeting academic standards.

“This testing cycle shows us that we have some targeted, intentional work ahead of us so we can continue to be a top performer in both reading and math,” Reykdal said. “I look forward to partnering with the Legislature and the Governor to ensure our schools have the resources they need to double-down on their efforts.”

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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