In reference to the opinion Idaho’s NAEP results: A bright spot in national education (September 4, 2005), I respectfully disagree with claim that recent NAEP results “puts Idaho in the top 5 in the nation all 4 categories measured” (i.e., reading and mathematics at grade 4 and 8).  Here’s why . . .

The question is: What is the status of Idaho’s fourth and eighth graders among the 50 states on the NAEP reading and mathematics assessments of 2019, 2022, and 2024?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is funded by Congress and administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The NAEP 2019 data was the last collected before the pandemic. NCES collected the NAEP 2022 data as the states’ public-school closures and mandates for the pandemic were being phased out. The 2024 data were collected after the first 2-year post-pandemic recovery period. NCES has published its analysis of this data on its website for the public’s information and use, in the online NAEP Data Explorer (anyone can access the data).

The reading and mathematics status of Idaho’s fourth graders among the 50 states as reported by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) can be described with a graph and two narratives.

Reading 4. In 2019, Idaho’s fourth grade reading score was statistically higher than those of 28 states. Idaho’s status fell to 7 states in 2022 and to 4 states in 2024.

Mathematics 4. In 2019, Idaho’s fourth grade mathematics score was statistically higher than those of 21 states. Idaho’s status fell to 15 states in 2022 and to 13 states in 2024.

The reading and mathematics status of Idaho’s eighth graders among the 50 states as reported by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) can be described with a graph and two narratives.

Reading 8. In 2019, Idaho’s eighth grade reading score was statistically higher than those of 28 states. Idaho’s status fell to 2 states in 2022 and continued with 2 states in 2024.

Mathematics 8. In 2019, Idaho’s eighth grade mathematics score was statistically higher than those of 28 states. Idaho’s status rose to 38 states in 2022 and fell to 26 states in 2024.

Now is not the time to celebrate academic success in Idaho’s public schools, but that time will come. Our teachers and parents will lead the way, but they need the support and cooperation of the governor and legislature, the state board and department of education, the local school boards and administrators, and their community.  It may take some time, but it will happen.