The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam—also known as The Nation’s Report Card—has been given to students since 1969. We discuss nationwide and Missouri-specific trends from the 2024 data release of 4th and 8th Grade Mathematics and Reading scores, and compare the results to the state’s own Missouri Assessment of Progress (MAP). Since 2019, the two sets of tests tell very different stories.

Scores on the Missouri MAP test are effectively flat from 2023 to 2024. Math scores have mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels. ELA scores have yet to recover, especially at the early grades, which remain at 2021 levels. This reflects a larger trend of declining early literacy rates.

This brief is a PRiME Center rapid analysis, released the same day as the Missouri MAP score results.