By Blake Moren, CTCN Correspondent

According to national data, Oklahoma’s state academic results are currently stagnant. In 2024, Oklahoma lagged behind the national average when it came to math and reading scores.
Since 2022, Oklahoma has seen little improvement.
The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) tests 4th and 8th graders in both math and reading in every state every 2 years. NAEP is also called the Nation’s Report Card.
The results for this year were below pre-pandemic performance.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, fourth graders only had a 23% proficient level in reading in the NAEP tests. It was 20% for eighth graders.
While nationally, fourth-grade reading levels have declined, Oklahomas has remained steady, despite being below the average of 30% scoring proficiently.
The national and state average for 8th grade reading did not show any significant change when compared to 2022 results. Regarding math scores, there was not any significant difference to the maths scores in 2022.
Thirty-one percent of fourth graders and 17% of 8th graders in Oklahoma had a proficient score in NAEP math assessments. For 4th grade math, the national average rose to 39% while eighth-grade math was 27%, indicating little change.
When compared to 2019’s rates of academic performances and chronic absenteeism, Oklahoma has gotten worse.
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Commissioner Peggy G. Carr said most of the signs of recovery are in the math scores and are “largely driven by higher-performing students.”
Carr said that lower-performing students struggle with reading.
These assessments started in 1992 and all federal states are required to participate in the assessments. For kindergarten to twelfth grade academic achievement, the Nation’s Report Card is considered the only reliable tool to compare each state’s academic success.