Data / Rankings / NAEP average score, reading, grade 8 / US states

US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8

New Jersey had the highest NAEP average score, reading, grade 8 of 51 states in 2022, at 270 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). New Mexico had the lowest, at 248 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). The median was 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500) and the figure for the United States was 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500). Source: National Center for Education Statistics.

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Highest270New Jersey
Lowest248New Mexico
Median25951 states
United States259History

Map of states, 2022

Alabama: 251 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas: 255 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado: 263 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia: 250 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas: 256 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts: 269 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire: 263 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey: 270 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico: 248 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina: 256 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma: 251 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina: 254 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas: 255 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah: 265 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia: 249 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)
  • Under 250
  • 250 to 260
  • 260 and over
NAEP scale score (0 to 500), 2022. Source: NCES, NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 8, all students, public schools, states and nation. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2022

New Jersey: 270 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey270Massachusetts: 269 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts269Utah: 265 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah265Connecticut: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut264Vermont: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont264Idaho: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho264Colorado: 263 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado263New Hampshire: 263 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire263Wisconsin: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin262Ohio: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio262Illinois: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois262South Dakota: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota262New York: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York262Washington: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington262Montana: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana261Wyoming: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming261Indiana: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana261Minnesota: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota260Georgia: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia260Iowa: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa260Florida: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida260Virginia: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia260Rhode Island: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island259Nebraska: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska259Maryland: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland259Pennsylvania: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania259Hawaii: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii259Nevada: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada259California: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California259Arizona: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona259Michigan: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan259Kentucky: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky258North Dakota: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota258Missouri: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri258Tennessee: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee258Oregon: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon257Maine: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine257Louisiana: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana257Kansas: 256 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas256North Carolina: 256 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina256Texas: 255 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas255Arkansas: 255 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas255South Carolina: 254 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina254Delaware: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware253Mississippi: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi253Alaska: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska253Oklahoma: 251 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma251Alabama: 251 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alabama251District of Columbia: 250 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia250West Virginia: 249 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia249New Mexico: 248 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico248New Jersey: 270 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Jersey270Massachusetts: 269 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Massachusetts269Utah: 265 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Utah265Connecticut: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Connecticut264Vermont: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Vermont264Idaho: 264 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Idaho264Colorado: 263 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Colorado263New Hampshire: 263 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Hampshire263Wisconsin: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wisconsin262Ohio: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Ohio262Illinois: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Illinois262South Dakota: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Dakota262New York: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New York262Washington: 262 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Washington262Montana: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Montana261Wyoming: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Wyoming261Indiana: 261 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Indiana261Minnesota: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Minnesota260Georgia: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Georgia260Iowa: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Iowa260Florida: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Florida260Virginia: 260 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Virginia260Rhode Island: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Rhode Island259Nebraska: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nebraska259Maryland: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maryland259Pennsylvania: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Pennsylvania259Hawaii: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Hawaii259Nevada: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Nevada259California: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)California259Arizona: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arizona259Michigan: 259 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Michigan259Kentucky: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kentucky258North Dakota: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Dakota258Missouri: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Missouri258Tennessee: 258 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Tennessee258Oregon: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oregon257Maine: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Maine257Louisiana: 257 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Louisiana257Kansas: 256 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Kansas256North Carolina: 256 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)North Carolina256Texas: 255 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Texas255Arkansas: 255 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Arkansas255South Carolina: 254 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)South Carolina254Delaware: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Delaware253Mississippi: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Mississippi253Alaska: 253 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alaska253Oklahoma: 251 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Oklahoma251Alabama: 251 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)Alabama251District of Columbia: 250 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)District of Columbia250West Virginia: 249 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)West Virginia249New Mexico: 248 NAEP scale score (0 to 500)New Mexico248
NAEP scale score (0 to 500). Source: NCES, NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 8, all students, public schools, states and nation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2022
NAEP scale score (0 to 500)
1New Jersey270
2Massachusetts269
3Utah265
4Connecticut264
5Vermont264
6Idaho264
7Colorado263
8New Hampshire263
9Wisconsin262
10Ohio262
11Illinois262
12South Dakota262
13New York262
14Washington262
15Montana261
16Wyoming261
17Indiana261
18Minnesota260
19Georgia260
20Iowa260
21Florida260
22Virginia260
23Rhode Island259
24Nebraska259
25Maryland259
26Pennsylvania259
27Hawaii259
28Nevada259
29California259
30Arizona259
31Michigan259
32Kentucky258
33North Dakota258
34Missouri258
35Tennessee258
36Oregon257
37Maine257
38Louisiana257
39Kansas256
40North Carolina256
41Texas255
42Arkansas255
43South Carolina254
44Delaware253
45Mississippi253
46Alaska253
47Oklahoma251
48Alabama251
49District of Columbia250
50West Virginia249
51New Mexico248

Other periods

About this ranking

Average scale score of public school students in reading, grade 8 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 8, 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 8, all students, public schools, states and nation (US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8, 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 8, all students, public schools, states and nation, US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8, 2022. National Center for Education Statistics, 12 Oct. 2026, https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-8/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 8, all students, public schools, states and nation. US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8, 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-8/us-states?period=2022.

Harvard

National Center for Education Statistics (2026) NAEP Data Service: average scale score, reading, grade 8, all students, public schools, states and nation, US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8, 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ndecore/xplore/NDE, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-8/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 8, all students, public schools, states and nation: US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8, 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-8/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 8, 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 8, all students, public schools, states and nation: US states by NAEP average score, reading, grade 8, 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-8/us-states?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/naep-reading-grade-8/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 8, 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 8 using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which state has the highest NAEP average score, reading, grade 8?

New Jersey, with 270 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 8?

New Mexico, with 248 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 8, all students, public schools, states and nation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings