The Nation's Report Card

This report presents results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2010 civics assessment. National results for representative samples of students at grades 4, 8, and 12 are reported as average scale scores and as a percentage of students performing at or above three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Scores are also reported at selected percentiles, showing changes in the performance of lower-, middle-, and higher-performing students. Results for student demographic groups defined by various background characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, and students' eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunch) are included, as well as sample assessment questions with examples of student responses. Results from the 2010 assessment are compared to those from two previous assessments in 1998 and 2006. The Technical Notes and appendix tables provide information on NAEP samples, school and student participation rates, and the exclusion and accommodation of students with disabilities and English language learners.
In comparison to the last assessment in 2006, average scores in 2010 were higher at grade 4, not significantly different at grade 8, and lower at grade 12. Gains for Hispanic students from 1998 to 2010 contributed to a narrowing of the White-Hispanic score gaps at all three grades. The percentage of students performing at or above the Proficient level in 2010 was 27 percent at grade four, 22 percent at grade eight, and 24 percent at grade twelve.