Data / Rankings / NAEP average score, reading, grade 4 / US states

US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024

Massachusetts had the highest NAEP average score, reading, grade 4 of 51 states in 2024, at 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). New Mexico had the lowest, at 201 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). The median was 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) and the figure for the United States was 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). Source: National Center for Education Statistics.

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Highest225Massachusetts
Lowest201New Mexico
Median21551 states
United States214History

Map of states, 2024

Alabama: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska: 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia: 209 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana: 220 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan: 209 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey: 222 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico: 201 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia: 206 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming: 222 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)
  • Under 210
  • 210 to 220
  • 220 and over
NAEP scale score (0 to 500), 2024. Source: NCES, NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2024

Massachusetts: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts225Wyoming: 222 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming222New Jersey: 222 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey222New Hampshire: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire221Colorado: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado221Indiana: 220 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana220Utah: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah219Connecticut: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut219Mississippi: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi219Florida: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida218Kentucky: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky218Montana: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana217Rhode Island: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island216Ohio: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio216Louisiana: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana216Hawaii: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii216Pennsylvania: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania216Washington: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington216Idaho: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho216Maryland: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland216North Dakota: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota216Wisconsin: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin215Tennessee: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee215South Carolina: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina215New York: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York215Iowa: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa215Minnesota: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota214Georgia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia214Illinois: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois214Virginia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia214South Dakota: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota214North Carolina: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina213Alabama: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alabama213Nevada: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada213Kansas: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas213Vermont: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont213Texas: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas212Missouri: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri212California: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California212Nebraska: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska212Arkansas: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas210Maine: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine210Delaware: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware210District of Columbia: 209 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia209Michigan: 209 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan209Arizona: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona208Oklahoma: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma207Oregon: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon207West Virginia: 206 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia206Alaska: 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska202New Mexico: 201 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico201Massachusetts: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts225Wyoming: 222 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming222New Jersey: 222 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey222New Hampshire: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire221Colorado: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado221Indiana: 220 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana220Utah: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah219Connecticut: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut219Mississippi: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi219Florida: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida218Kentucky: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky218Montana: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana217Rhode Island: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island216Ohio: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio216Louisiana: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana216Hawaii: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii216Pennsylvania: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania216Washington: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington216Idaho: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho216Maryland: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland216North Dakota: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota216Wisconsin: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin215Tennessee: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee215South Carolina: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina215New York: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York215Iowa: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa215Minnesota: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota214Georgia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia214Illinois: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois214Virginia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia214South Dakota: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota214North Carolina: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina213Alabama: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alabama213Nevada: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada213Kansas: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas213Vermont: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont213Texas: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas212Missouri: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri212California: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California212Nebraska: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska212Arkansas: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas210Maine: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine210Delaware: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware210District of Columbia: 209 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia209Michigan: 209 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan209Arizona: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona208Oklahoma: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma207Oregon: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon207West Virginia: 206 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia206Alaska: 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska202New Mexico: 201 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico201
NAEP scale score (0 to 500). Source: NCES, NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2024
NAEP scale score (0 to 500)
1Massachusetts225
2Wyoming222
3New Jersey222
4New Hampshire221
5Colorado221
6Indiana220
7Utah219
8Connecticut219
9Mississippi219
10Florida218
11Kentucky218
12Montana217
13Rhode Island216
14Ohio216
15Louisiana216
16Hawaii216
17Pennsylvania216
18Washington216
19Idaho216
20Maryland216
21North Dakota216
22Wisconsin215
23Tennessee215
24South Carolina215
25New York215
26Iowa215
27Minnesota214
28Georgia214
29Illinois214
30Virginia214
31South Dakota214
32North Carolina213
33Alabama213
34Nevada213
35Kansas213
36Vermont213
37Texas212
38Missouri212
39California212
40Nebraska212
41Arkansas210
42Maine210
43Delaware210
44District of Columbia209
45Michigan209
46Arizona208
47Oklahoma207
48Oregon207
49West Virginia206
50Alaska202
51New Mexico201

Other periods

About this ranking

Average scale score of public school students in reading, grade 4 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, the Nation's Report Card), on a scale of 0 to 500, from the National Center for Education Statistics. The year is the year of the assessment, given from January to March.

NAEP tests a sample of students, so each score has a margin of error and a difference of a few points between states or years is often not statistically significant. States are tested every two years (2003 to 2019, then 2022 and 2024). The national value is for public schools only, the group NCES compares states with. Scores are on the same scale across years and states but cannot be compared with state test results.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

National Center for Education Statistics. (2026). NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation (US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE

MLA 9

NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation, US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024. National Center for Education Statistics, 12 Oct. 2026, https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

National Center for Education Statistics. 2026. NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states.

Harvard

National Center for Education Statistics (2026) NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation, US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{national_us_states_by_naep_2024,
  author = {{National Center for Education Statistics}},
  title = {{NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation: US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states. Publisher attribution: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - National Center for Education Statistics
TI  - NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation: US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/12
PB  - National Center for Education Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4 using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which state has the highest NAEP average score, reading, grade 4?

Massachusetts, with 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) in 2024, according to National Center for Education Statistics.

Which state has the lowest NAEP average score, reading, grade 4?

New Mexico, with 201 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 4, all students, public schools, states and nation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings