GNO, Inc. Sunday Night Highlight – Louisiana Students Achieve Their Highest National Rankings on “The Nation’s Report Card”
Louisiana 4th graders lead the nation in reading growth again, now ranked 16th in the country.
Louisiana students have achieved some of the most significant academic progress in the nation, according to data released last week as part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), called “The Nation’s Report Card.” Widely regarded as the “gold standard” of assessments, these latest NAEP results measure math and reading proficiency among 4th and 8th-grade students in the U.S. Louisiana’s students earned the state’s highest national rankings across both grade levels and subjects, with some of the largest post-pandemic improvement in the nation.
“This is a historic achievement for our state and underscores the dedication of teachers and a laser focus on fundamental academic skills,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “While we are obviously pleased, we are not completely satisfied, as there is more work to accomplish.”
Highlights include:
- Louisiana 4th graders led the nation in reading growth for the second consecutive cycle of The Nation’s Report Card (2022 and 2024)
- Louisiana 4th graders were top five in the nation for math growth
- Louisiana is one of only two states where 4th graders exceeded 2019 (pre-pandemic) scores in reading and math
- Louisiana is one of 14 states to post gains in 8th-grade math
- Louisiana students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students outperformed the national average in both achievement and growth
Overall, Louisiana climbed from 49th place five years ago to 32nd place overall in combined NAEP performance across subjects and grade levels. Brumley attributes the progress to a number of factors, including a focus on basic skills in elementary school, with tutoring support; expanded choice options; teacher training reforms; increased accountability; and, collaboration between educational stakeholders. A new 3rd-grade reading assessment, requiring students to meet benchmarks before advancing, will take effect this year.
NAEP Commissioner Peggy Carr called Louisiana a model for other states, proving there are “no excuses” for pandemic-related learning loss.
You can read more about Louisiana’s education progress here.