Wyoming’s fourth and eighth grade students outperformed the national average in reading and mathscores in the National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAPE scores.
The test is administered every two years. Wyoming did especially well in 4th grade math where it improved by three points from 2011 and five points from 2009. State Education Director Rich Crandall is pleased.
“It means we are getting a good return on our investment. If you look at that 4th grade math category, we are outpacing the growth in the United States. So what we as a Department want is to step back and say ok…how can we take that same kind of success we are getting in 4th grade math and apply it to every other category.”
Will Donkersgoed of the Wyoming Department of Education says there were other positive results. For instance 4th grade girls increased their math scores by 4 points in the last two years.
“That essentially eliminated any results between them and boys. And there are similar types of stories for Hispanic students in grade 8 math and Native American students in grade 4 math increased their scores by nine points on the NAPE scale.”
Donkersgoed says they are pleased with Wyoming’s progress, but he also says they can continue to improve.