North Dakota – State school superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Wednesday that North Dakota students outperformed national averages in mathematics, according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results.

Eighth graders in North Dakota scored an average of 280 in mathematics, surpassing the national average of 272. For fourth graders, the state’s average score was 241, compared to the national average of 237. Both spreads are considered significant by the National Center for Education Statistics.

The NAEP was administered from January 29 to March 8, 2024, to 5,707 fourth graders and 6,721 eighth graders at 219 test sites across the state. The student participation rate exceeded 95 percent. Students spent approximately two hours completing both mathematics and reading exams.

North Dakota’s reading scores were in line with national averages. Fourth graders scored an average of 216, slightly ahead of the national average of 214, while eighth graders scored 257, matching the national average.

Baesler noted the challenge of regaining ground lost during the pandemic. “Our teachers have taken incredible steps toward improving our reading and math instruction, and I believe those efforts are bearing fruit,” she said.

In terms of rankings, North Dakota’s fourth graders ranked below five states in math, and its eighth graders ranked below six states. For reading, 12 states outperformed North Dakota in fourth grade, and 23 in eighth grade.