Republican Governors from at least 8 states- Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia – are slated to appear with President Trump today for the ceremonial signing of Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. One would think that this gathering should be reserved for those states doing a stellar job on boosting student achievement. That’s far from the case, however. Most of these states saw declines in math and reading from 2022 to 2024.
Florida, for example, fell 7 points in 4th grade reading between 2022 and 2024 and 4 points on 8th grade math. The average score for 4th grade reading for students in Texas in 2024 (212) fell 2 points from 2022 (214), dropping Texas four places from 33rd to 37th in the nation. Texas’s 8th-grade math score in 2022 was 273; Texas’s 8th-grade math score in 2024 was 269, a 4 point drop causing Texas to fall to 34th in the nation from 25th in the nation in 2022.
4th grade reading. Florida’s average 4th-grade reading score in 2024 was 218, decreasing from 225 or by 7 points from 2022 to 2024. This caused Florida to drop from being ranked third in fourth-grade reading in 2022, to move down to tenth in 2024.
8th grade math. The average score for students in Florida in 2024 (267) was 4 points lower than their average score in 2022 (271) and in 2003 (271). This, 267, was also lower than the national average of 272. In national rankings, Florida is decidedly in the middle: In 2024, the average score in Florida (267) was lower than those in 27 states/jurisdictions; was higher than those in 5 states/jurisdictions; and was not significantly different from those in 19 states/jurisdictions.
4th grade reading. In 2024, the average 4th-grade reading score in Idaho was 216 up slightly from its 2022 score of 2015. Idaho’s 2024 average score was lower than those in 9 states/jurisdictions; Idaho’shigher than those in 10 states/jurisdictions; and, not significantly different from those in 32 states/jurisdictions.
8th grade math. In 2024, the average 8th-grade math score in Idaho was 272. The 2022 8th grade math score in Idaho was 277. Therefore, the scale score decreased by 5 points from 2022 to 2024. Idaho’s average score squarely in the middle nationwide: it was lower than those in 15 states/jurisdictions; higher than those in 16 states/jurisdictions; and, not significantly different from those in 20 states/jurisdictions.
4th grade reading. In 2024, the average 4th-grade reading score in Indiana was 220.In 2022, Indiana’s average 4th-grade reading score was 217. Therefore, Indiana’s average score increased by 3 points from 2022 to 2024. Indiana is among the top states. In 2024, the average score in Indiana (220) was lower than those in only 2 states/jurisdictions; the average score was higher than those in 33 states/jurisdictions; the average score was not significantly different from those in 16 states/jurisdictions.
8th grade math. In 2024, the average 8th-grade math score in Indiana was 278. In 2022, Indiana’s average 8th-grade math score was 279. Therefore, Indiana’s average score decreased by 1 point from 2022 to 2024. Indiana scores relatively higher than most states on 8th grade math: In 2024, the average score in Indiana (278) was lower than those in only 3 states/jurisdictions; the average score was higher than those in 27 states/jurisdictions; the average score was not significantly different from those in 21 states/jurisdictions.
4th grade reading. Iowa’s average 4th-grade reading score in 2022 was 218, decreasing by 3 points from 2022 to 2024. This puts Iowa squarely in the middle of the pack: Iowa’s 2024 average score was: lower than those in 9 states/jurisdiction; higher than those in 11 states/jurisdictions; not significantly different from those in 31 states/jurisdictions.
8th grade math. In 2024, the average 8th-grade math score in Iowa was 275, down 2 points from 277 in 2022. In 2024, the average score in Iowa (275) was lower than those in 12 states/jurisdictions i.e., Iowa is yet another middle of the pack state. In 2024, the average score in Iowa (275) was lower than those in 12 states/jurisdictions, higher than those in 24 states/jurisdictions, and not significantly different from those in 15 states/jurisdictions.
4th grade reading. The average score for students in Ohio in 2024 (216) was lower than their average score in 2022 (219) and was lower than their average score in 2002 (222). In 2024, the average score of fourth-grade students in Ohio was 216, not significantly different from the average score of 214 for students in the nation, i.e., Ohio ranked in the middle of the pack of a bunch of states that are not significantly different from each other.
8th grade math. In 2022, Ohio’s average 8th-grade math score was 276, the average score increasing by 3 points from 2022 (273) to 2024. In the 2024 NAEP 8th-grade math assessment, Ohio ranked between 11th and 20th (tied) among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Ohio’s performance placed it among the top twenty U.S. states in math.
4th grade reading. In 2024, the average 4th-grade reading score in Tennessee was 215, up one point from 2014 in 2022.Tennessee is among the higher scoring states in 4th grade reading. In 2024, the average score in Tennessee (215) was lower than those in just 6 states/jurisdictions; higher than those in 11 states/jurisdictions: and, not significantly different from those in 34 states/jurisdictions.
8th grade math. In 2024, the average 8th-grade math score in Tennessee was 276. Tennessee’s average 8th grade math score in 2022 was 278, therefore Tennessee’s score dropped 2 points from 2022 to 2024. Tennessee’s score was higher than the national average of 272. The average score in Tennessee (276) was higher than most states: lower than those in only 5 states/jurisdictions; higher than those in 23 states/jurisdictions; not significantly different from those in 23 states/jurisdictions.
4th grade reading. The average score for students in Texas in 2024 (212) fell 2 points from 2022 (214). Texas dropped four places from 33rd to 37th in the Nation.
8th grade math. Texas’s 8th-grade math score in 2022 was 273; Texas’s 8th-grade math score in 2024 was 269, a 4 point drop. Texas fell to 34th in the nation. This is a drop from 25th in 2022.
4th grade reading. In 2024, the average 4th-grade reading score in Virginia was 214, exactly the same as it was in 2022. This score was not significantly different from the national average of 214. According to the NCES data, Virginia’s 2024 average score was: Lower than those in 9 states/jurisdictions; higher than those in 5 states/jurisdictions; not significantly different from those in 37 states/jurisdictions.
8th grade math. Virginia’s average 8th-grade math score in 2022 was 279, down
by 4 points from 2022 to 2024. However, the NCES reports that this change was “not significantly different”. Virginia is in the middle of the pack. The 2024 average score was lower than those in 10 states/jurisdictions and was not significantly different from those in 17 states/jurisdictions.
4th grade reading. Oklahoma’s average 4th-grade reading score in 2024 was 207. Oklahoma’s average 4th-grade reading score in 2022 was 208, therefore, Oklahoma’s average score decreased by 1 point from 2022 to 2024. On 4th grade reading, Oklahoma is tied for 39th in the nation, essentially rock bottom. Oklahoma’s 2024 average score was lower than those in 38 states/jurisdictions; higher than those in only 2 states/jurisdictions.
And not significantly different from those in 11 states/jurisdictions.
8th grade math. In 2024, the average score of eighth-grade students in Oklahoma in math was 264, the same as in 2022. This was significantly lower than the national average score of 272, putting Oklahoma tied for 35th in the nation: Oklahoma’s average score was lower than those in 34 states/jurisdictions; higher than those in 4 states/jurisdictions; and, not significantly different than 13 states/jurisdictions.