Reading Performance in American Students

Dr. James Hickey

Reading Performance in American Students

A leader in education, Dr. James Hickey previously was vice principal and principal of Old Bridge High School, an institution with 3,100 students, almost 350 staff, and an operating budget of about $30 million. Following his tenure at Old Bridge, Dr. Hickey became the Dean of Academic Affairs at The Pennington School, an independent boarding and day school established in the mid-19th century.

Reading Performance in American Students

The United States measures reading performance through National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which examines both overall national achievement and regional achievement . The NAEP assesses students both nonpublic and public schools and publishes results for grades twelve, eight, and four. The assessment scores individuals on a 500-point scale.

Reading Performance in American Students

From 2009 through 2011, the NAEP reported no changes in fourth-grade male and female average reading scores. From 1992 through 2011, however, fourth-grade males increased their reading score from 213 to 218. Fourth-grade females raised their score by four points, to 225 . The 2011 NAEP assessment for eighth graders reported a one-point gain over 2009 and a five-point gain over 1992.