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FACT BRIEF

Does Wisconsin have the second highest math proficiency rate among fourth graders in the US?

By Erin Gretzinger
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YES

According to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress report card, 43% of Wisconsin fourth-grade students tested proficient or higher in math — tied with Nebraska and Massachusetts for the second highest percentage across all U.S. states. For eighth graders, Wisconsin tied with New Jersey for the third highest "at or above proficient" percentage.

For reading, Wisconsin fourth and eighth graders' proficient or higher percentage is slightly better than the national public average. However, Wisconsin's average reading test scores for fourth and eighth graders do not show a statistically significant difference from the national average.

While Wisconsin saw less steep score drops than other states amid the pandemic, Wisconsin had the widest score gaps between Black and white students out of all the states that provided data. Wisconsin already had the worst racial disparities in the nation — and now, the margins have grown.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
The Nation's Report Card State Profiles for NAEP 2022 Report Card
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Wisconsin reports widest score gap between Black and white students in nation
USA Today Reading and math test scores fell across US during the pandemic. How did your state fare?
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Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.