The Real Test Scores: National Test Scores Show Only 31% of Wisconsin Students Proficient in Reading

Jan 29, 2025 | Press Release

For Immediate Release:

January 29, 2025

The Real Test Scores: National Test Scores Show Only 31% of Wisconsin Students Proficient in Reading

After Inflating State Test Scores, Tragic NAEP Scores Demand a Response from DPI, MPS

Delafield, Wis. – New national NAEP test scores released on Wednesday show only 31% of young Wisconsin students are proficient in reading, far below the 52% claimed by Superintendent Jill Underly’s lowered standards. Students are not recovering from the pandemic; in most categories, Wisconsin students scored worse in 2024 than they did in 2022 and 2019.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the gold standard of education testing, with the Department of Education releasing key results every 2 years for 4th, 8th, and 12th graders. “Proficient” resembles a “college-ready” standard. “Basic” resembles a “grade-level” standard. Superintendent Tony Evers previously aligned Wisconsin state tests with NAEP, but Superintendent Underly shifted 2024 state tests to a lower standard.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Scores are lower than 2019 and 2022: Just 31% of 4th graders scored Proficient in reading, far below the 52% claimed by the 2024 Forward Exam. This is down from 33% in 2022 and 36% in 2019. 39% scored Below Basic. In mathematics, 42% of 4th graders scored Proficient, not 54% as the Forward Exam claimed.

  • Black students ranked last in the nation: Wisconsin’s Black students ranked last in 4th grade reading and mathematics, scoring 8% and 5% Proficient, respectively.

  • Hispanic and White students had mediocre scores: Hispanic 4th graders tied for 32nd and 38th, scoring 20% and 24% Proficient, respectively. White students tied for 21st and 15th, scoring 38% and 51% Proficient, respectively.

  • Milwaukee’s Black students scored last in the nation among big cities tested: Only 5% of 4th graders scored Proficient in reading, and only 5% did in math. To illustrate this calamity, 90% of Black Milwaukee 4th graders were likely to get this question wrong: “Of 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, and 703, which are odd numbers?” 90% of Black Milwaukee 8th graders were likely to get this question wrong: “What is the slope and what is the y-intercept of y = 2x + 3?”

WHY IT MATTERS: The Department of Public Instruction lowered standards on 2024 state tests, prompting criticism from schools, parents, Governor Tony Evers, and Speaker Robin Vos. The NAEP results show the true academic performance of Wisconsin after recent lowering of state test standards.

THE QUOTE: “Reading scores in Wisconsin and Milwaukee are the lowest in decades. Instead of solving this literacy crisis, Superintendent Underly has lowered standards for Wisconsin kids and dragged her feet on enacting Act 20,” said CJ Szafir, CEO of the Institute for Reforming Government. “Enough is enough. DPI must return to high standards and retrain teachers by the law’s 2025 deadline, or 2027 will look the same.”

WHAT’S NEXT: IRG’s report, Testing Our Patience, broke the news on how, when, and why Superintendent Underly lowered Forward Exam and ACT standards. IRG has waited months for DPI to provide a second round of public records on the matter for its follow-up report on why Wisconsin should return to rigorous NAEP standards.

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The Institute for Reforming Government is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to simplify government at every level by offering policy solutions to thought leaders in American government in the areas of tax reform, government inefficiency, and burdensome regulations.