In fact, the average 2008 math scores for 9- and 13-year-olds on the National Assessment of Educational Progress are higher than they have been since 1973, according to data released in The Nation’s Report Card.
The average reading scores of 9-year-old black, white and Latino students across the United States also reached a new high. The reading scores for the other two age groups tested — 13 and 17 — have improved since 2004.
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I didn’t find 2008 state breakdowns, but you can get a sense of how California measures up to the rest of the United States with these color-coded maps that reflect 2007 reading and math scores. (Hint: Look at the red bars.)