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Sources: Test Scores: U.S. Dept of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress
Percent Eligible for Free/Reduced-Priced Lunch: U.S. Dept of Education, Natl Ctr for Edu Stats, Digest of Education Statistics (2008)
Percent Eligible for Free/Reduced-Priced Lunch: U.S. Dept of Education, Natl Ctr for Edu Stats, Digest of Education Statistics (2008)
So What?
1) NAEP stands for National Assessment of Educational Progress and is a test taken by most public school students in 4th, 8th,
and 12 th grade as required by the U.S. Department of Education. The tests cover numerous subjects, including reading and
mathematics.
2) This is a measure of math proficiency of public school 8th graders in 2005 compared to the percent of students in the state
eligible for free or reduced-price lunches as part of the federal School Lunch Program; an indicator of poverty.
3) Eligibility for free or reduced lunches is generally available for families with incomes below 130% or 185% of the federal
poverty guideline. In the 2008-09 school year, the federal poverty level is $21,200 annual for a family of four in the 48
contiguous states, somewhat higher for Alaska and Hawaii. (See USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, National School Lunch
Program, Income Eligibility Requirements).
4) One notes very good correlation between student math scores and the percent of students in a state eligible for the National
School Lunch Program. The more poor students, the lower the reading test scores.
5) At the high end of the distribution, Massachusetts, with about 28% of students eligible for the lunch program achieves a math
test score of about 292. With approximately the same prevalence of poverty, several states, including VT, NJ, CT, ND, WI, are
only able to achieve scores as low as 281.
6) Similarly, toward the middle of the distribution, Oregon and North Carolina achieve a math score of abut 282, while states like
MO, NV, and HI, with similar poverty profile, only achieve scores as low as 266.
7) Interestingly, Mississippi, with the highest percent poverty at about 69%, achieves a math score of 262, about the same as AL
and NM, much lower poverty percentages.
8) See also Reading Scores vs. Poverty by State.
9) See reading and math scores combined in Reading+Math Scores vs. Poverty by State.
1) NAEP stands for National Assessment of Educational Progress and is a test taken by most public school students in 4th, 8th,
and 12 th grade as required by the U.S. Department of Education. The tests cover numerous subjects, including reading and
mathematics.
2) This is a measure of math proficiency of public school 8th graders in 2005 compared to the percent of students in the state
eligible for free or reduced-price lunches as part of the federal School Lunch Program; an indicator of poverty.
3) Eligibility for free or reduced lunches is generally available for families with incomes below 130% or 185% of the federal
poverty guideline. In the 2008-09 school year, the federal poverty level is $21,200 annual for a family of four in the 48
contiguous states, somewhat higher for Alaska and Hawaii. (See USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, National School Lunch
Program, Income Eligibility Requirements).
4) One notes very good correlation between student math scores and the percent of students in a state eligible for the National
School Lunch Program. The more poor students, the lower the reading test scores.
5) At the high end of the distribution, Massachusetts, with about 28% of students eligible for the lunch program achieves a math
test score of about 292. With approximately the same prevalence of poverty, several states, including VT, NJ, CT, ND, WI, are
only able to achieve scores as low as 281.
6) Similarly, toward the middle of the distribution, Oregon and North Carolina achieve a math score of abut 282, while states like
MO, NV, and HI, with similar poverty profile, only achieve scores as low as 266.
7) Interestingly, Mississippi, with the highest percent poverty at about 69%, achieves a math score of 262, about the same as AL
and NM, much lower poverty percentages.
8) See also Reading Scores vs. Poverty by State.
9) See reading and math scores combined in Reading+Math Scores vs. Poverty by State.
Math Scores vs. Poverty by State
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