Achievement Gaps: Hispanic and White Students

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Achievement Gaps: How Hispanic and White Students in Public Schools Perform in Mathematics and Reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress” examines the achievement gaps between Hispanic and White public school students and change in gaps over time, using NAEP mathematics and reading assessment results from 2009 and trend results since 1990.

Results are available for grades 4 and 8 nationwide and for states for which data are available, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools. To view the results, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

Major findings from the Hispanic-White Achievement Gaps report include:

• There was no significant change at either grade 4 or 8 in the Hispanic-White achievement gap in either mathematics or reading between 2007 and 2009. Scores during that time period improved for both Hispanic and White students at grade 8 in both mathematics and reading.

• In 2009, both grades 4 and 8 saw a narrowing of the Hispanic-White achievement gaps in reading for low income students since 2003. Additionally, between 2003 and 2009, the Hispanic-White achievement gap in mathematics narrowed for low income students at grade 8.

• In 2009 mathematics and reading, in both grades 4 and 8, the gap between White and non-ELL Hispanic was smaller than non-ELL and ELL Hispanic students.

• At grade 4 in mathematics, eleven states and jurisdictions observed smaller Hispanic-White gaps than the nation in 2009. In reading, thirteen states had smaller gaps than the nation.

• At grade 8 in mathematics, fifteen states recorded narrower Hispanic-White gaps than the nation in 2009; in reading, seven states had Hispanic-White gaps that were narrower than the national gap.

• Between 2007 and 2009, the Hispanic-White gaps in mathematics widened at grade 4 in two states. In reading, one state narrowed the achievement gap between 2007 and 2009.

• Between 2007 and 2009, achievement gaps did not widen at grade 8 in any state in mathematics or reading. Three states narrowed the Hispanic-White gap in reading, and two states narrowed the gap in mathematics.