WISCONSIN — The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report — also known as the Nation’s Report Card — was released Wednesday.

It tests students in fourth and eighth grades at schools across the country to measure what they know in reading and math. It also evaluates how well they can apply those skills.

“NAEP is a national assessment. Every state takes it,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly said. “It’s a sampling of schools and students and it’s a very high benchmark to meet to be proficient in NAEP.”

The report comes out every two years and helps set lawmakers’ and administrators’ priorities for education reform.  

“Wisconsin has gone from 13th in the nation in 2020 to 6th in the nation when it comes to education,” Underly said. “We have among the highest graduation rates in the nation.”

The NAEP report showed overall mixed results for Wisconsin schools. The state, once again, ranked the worst in the nation for racial disparity, with the widest gap in math and reading scores between Black and white students.  

“There is a correlation between poverty and achievement. Higher poverty schools have lower achievement and the way through that is through funding and we’ve known this,” Underly said. “The gap that is named in our NAEP schools predates me. It’s decades old and it’s not something to be proud of. We have to fix it.”

The 2024 scores did not change much from the last NAEP report in 2022. On average, Wisconsin students tested higher than most of the country in math and reading in fourth and eighth grades.  

“They try to do a wide sample of different regions of the state, so rural as well as urban and suburban,” she said. “Of course, the demographics will be different depending on where you are.”

Across the U.S., 76% of fourth graders tested “at or above basic” in math in 2024, while 39% of fourth graders tested “at or above proficient.” In reading, 59% of fourth graders tested “at or above basic” in 2024, and 30% tested “at or above proficient.”

When it comes to the nation’s eighth graders, 59% tested “at or above basic” in math in 2024, while 27% of eighth graders tested “at or above proficient.” In reading, 66% of eighth graders tested “at or above basic” in 2024, and 29% tested “at or above proficient.”

In Wisconsin in 2024, 77% of fourth graders tested “at or above basic” in math, while 42% of fourth graders tested “at or above proficient.” A total of 10% of the state’s fourth graders tested “at advanced” levels in math.

Those numbers are down slightly from 2022. That year, 79% of Wisconsin fourth graders tested “at or above basic” in math, while 43% tested “at or above proficient.” The same amount of fourth graders — 10% — tested “at advanced” levels in math that year.

In Wisconsin in 2024, 61% of fourth graders tested “at or above basic” in reading, while 31% of fourth graders tested “at or above proficient.” A total of 8% of the state’s fourth graders tested “at advanced” levels in reading.

Those numbers are down slightly from 2022. That year, 63% of Wisconsin fourth graders tested “at or above basic” in reading, while 33% tested “at or above proficient.” The same amount of fourth graders — 10% — tested “at advanced” levels in reading that year.

In Wisconsin in 2024, 69% of eighth graders tested “at or above basic” in math, while 37% of eighth graders tested “at or above proficient.” A total of 10% of the state’s eighth graders tested “at advanced” levels in math.

Those numbers are varied slightly from 2022. That year, 70% of Wisconsin eighth graders tested “at or above basic” in math, while 33% tested “at or above proficient.” Just 8% of eighth graders tested “at advanced” levels in math that year.

In Wisconsin in 2024, 70% of eighth graders tested “at or above basic” in reading, while 31% of eighth graders tested “at or above proficient.” A total of 3% of the state’s eighth graders tested “at advanced” levels in reading.

Those numbers are down slightly from 2022. That year, 72% of Wisconsin eighth graders tested “at or above basic” in reading, while 32% tested “at or above proficient.” The same amount of eighth graders — 3% — tested “at advanced” levels in reading that year.

“Our Wisconsin kids are exceeding grade level,” Underly said. “This upcoming biennial budget presents a critical moment for public education.”

Underly is seeking $4 billion in additional state funding for education in the next budget. 

“We know that public education in Wisconsin has been chronically under-funded in the last 15 years,” she said. “We’ve seen it through the number of referendums that have gone to the ballot, especially last year with about 50% of schools districts asking to raise taxes.”

She’s also pushing for universal free school meals, more mental health support for students and increased special education funding. 

“We have one of the lowest special education reimbursement rates. It’s at 30%,” she said. “You can’t look at any business and say if a business is underperforming, we’re going to cut back on spending. It doesn’t work in any other industry and education is no different.”

Underly said she’s confident the current legislature understands the problem at hand and will work toward a solution. However, Republicans in the legislature have already said they oppose the specific plan that’s been put forward. 

“There are some new faces in the legislature and I’m hopeful they’ll work together to pass the best budget for our kids,” she said.

Find national test scores, here.

Find Wisconsin test scores, here.