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

US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4

Massachusetts had the highest NAEP average score, reading, grade 4 of 51 states in 2022, at 227 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). New Mexico had the lowest, at 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). The median was 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) and the figure for the United States was 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). Source: National Center for Education Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest227Massachusetts
Lowest202New Mexico
Median21651 states
United States216History

Map of states, 2022

Alabama: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska: 204 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts: 227 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico: 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia: 205 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)
  • Under 210
  • 210 to 220
  • 220 and over
NAEP scale score (0 to 500), 2022. 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, 2022

Massachusetts: 227 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts227Wyoming: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming225Florida: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida225Colorado: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado223New Jersey: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey223New Hampshire: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire223Utah: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah221Connecticut: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut219Pennsylvania: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania219Hawaii: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii219Montana: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana219Nebraska: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska219Ohio: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio219South Dakota: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota218Iowa: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa218Illinois: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois218North Dakota: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota218Wisconsin: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin217Indiana: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana217Rhode Island: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island217Mississippi: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi217Vermont: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont217Washington: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington217Kentucky: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky217South Carolina: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina216North Carolina: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina216Georgia: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia216Arizona: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona215Minnesota: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota215Idaho: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho215Kansas: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas215California: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California214Texas: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas214Virginia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia214Tennessee: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee214New York: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York214Missouri: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri213Alabama: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alabama213Maine: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine213Maryland: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland212Louisiana: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana212Arkansas: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas212Michigan: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan212Nevada: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada212Oregon: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon210Delaware: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware208Oklahoma: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma208District of Columbia: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia207West Virginia: 205 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia205Alaska: 204 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska204New Mexico: 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico202Massachusetts: 227 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts227Wyoming: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming225Florida: 225 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida225Colorado: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado223New Jersey: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey223New Hampshire: 223 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire223Utah: 221 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah221Connecticut: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut219Pennsylvania: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania219Hawaii: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii219Montana: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana219Nebraska: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska219Ohio: 219 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio219South Dakota: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota218Iowa: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa218Illinois: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois218North Dakota: 218 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota218Wisconsin: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin217Indiana: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana217Rhode Island: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island217Mississippi: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi217Vermont: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont217Washington: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington217Kentucky: 217 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky217South Carolina: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina216North Carolina: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina216Georgia: 216 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia216Arizona: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona215Minnesota: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota215Idaho: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho215Kansas: 215 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas215California: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California214Texas: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas214Virginia: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia214Tennessee: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee214New York: 214 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York214Missouri: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri213Alabama: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alabama213Maine: 213 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine213Maryland: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland212Louisiana: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana212Arkansas: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas212Michigan: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan212Nevada: 212 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada212Oregon: 210 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon210Delaware: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware208Oklahoma: 208 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma208District of Columbia: 207 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia207West Virginia: 205 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia205Alaska: 204 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska204New Mexico: 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico202
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

RankStates2022
NAEP scale score (0 to 500)
1Massachusetts227
2Wyoming225
3Florida225
4Colorado223
5New Jersey223
6New Hampshire223
7Utah221
8Connecticut219
9Pennsylvania219
10Hawaii219
11Montana219
12Nebraska219
13Ohio219
14South Dakota218
15Iowa218
16Illinois218
17North Dakota218
18Wisconsin217
19Indiana217
20Rhode Island217
21Mississippi217
22Vermont217
23Washington217
24Kentucky217
25South Carolina216
26North Carolina216
27Georgia216
28Arizona215
29Minnesota215
30Idaho215
31Kansas215
32California214
33Texas214
34Virginia214
35Tennessee214
36New York214
37Missouri213
38Alabama213
39Maine213
40Maryland212
41Louisiana212
42Arkansas212
43Michigan212
44Nevada212
45Oregon210
46Delaware208
47Oklahoma208
48District of Columbia207
49West Virginia205
50Alaska204
51New Mexico202

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, 2022) [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, 2022. 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?period=2022. 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, 2022. 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?period=2022.

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, 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{national_us_states_by_naep_2022,
  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, 2022}},
  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?period=2022. 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, 2022
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?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-4/us-states?period=2022.
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  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 4 using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"naep_reading_grade4_average_score","level":"region","within":"United States","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=naep_reading_grade4_average_score&level=region&within=United%20States&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

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

Massachusetts, with 227 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) in 2022, according to National Center for Education Statistics.

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

New Mexico, with 202 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) in 2022.

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