The report looks at recent test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) at the National Center for Educational Statistics. NAEP assessments are administered uniformly using the same sets of test booklets across the nation, and the state results are based on public school students only. The NAEP rates a student’s test scores in three categories: Basic, Proficient and Advanced.

NAEP scores are also broken down by those eligible for free and reduced school lunch (low income) and those who are not (higher income). Results in South Dakota show that reading proficiency decreased for the low income students and improved slightly for the higher income students from 2003 to 2013. The gap between low and high income students, already pronounced, increased to 20 percent between 2003 and 2013 (See the chart below).

Percent of South Dakota Fourth Graders Reading below Proficient Levels

 

All Students

 

Low Income Students

 

Higher Income Students

Percent Change in Gap

2003 - 2013

2003

2013

2003

2013

2003

2013

 

20%

67%

68%

79%

82%

59%

58%

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