Test Scores

Test Scores Achievement Gap

Test scores indicate that a consistent achievement gap exists in Utah between minorities and whites, and between low income students and non-low income students.

NAEP Test Scores

The graphs below illustrate these achievement gaps using test results from the National Assessment for Educational Progress or NAEP.  The NAEP is the national standard for student performance and is used to compare student performance between different states and student groups. 

Based on NAEP test scores in 8th grade math, the achievement between whites and Hispanics is about three grade levels.  The gap between low-income and non-low-income students is about two grade levels.  (A ten-point difference on NAEP is approximately equal to one grade level)

Utah's Minority Achievement Gap, 8th Grade Math
Utah Foundation¹ & National Assessment of Educational Progress²

The minority achievement gap in 8th grade math has increased 37% since 1992.

The income achievement gap in 8th grade math has increased 66% since 1996.

Average Hispanic Scores, 8th Grade Writing
National Assessment of Educational Progress³

On the 2007 NAEP Writing Test, Utah Hispanic students scored the lowest among Hispanic students in the U.S.  The average score for Utah Hispanics was more than a grade level below the national average. 

• See a complete list of how each state's Hispanic students scored on the writing test>>

See how Utah compares to the rest of the U.S.

The links below take you to an interactive map on the NAEP website that lets you easily compare Utah to the rest of the U.S.

• Math Comparison Map>>
• Reading Comparison Map>>
• Science Comparison Map>>
  
• Writing Comparison Map>>

Related Content

• Learn more about the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)>>
  

For more info

• The Utah Foundation discusses the achievement gap in test scores in a recent report.  Read the report>>

Utah Basic Skills & Competency Test
high school exit exam

All public high school students must pass the Utah Basic Skills & Competency Test (UBSCT) in order to receive a basic high school diploma. Students first take it in the 10th grade and have a total of 5 attempts to pass all three parts of the exam (math, reading, and writing).

Remediation Offered

Students who fail the UBSCT in 10th grade are eligible to receive a state-funded voucher to pay for tutoring services.  Learn more>>

Test Results

As the graphs indicate, an achievement gap still exists when students finish high school. A 27 point gap exists between Caucasian and Hispanic students (Utah's largest minority group), and a 20 point gap exists between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students.

% Passing the UBSCT by Ethnicity, Graduating Class of 2008
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment³

 % Passing the UBSCT by Income, Graduating Class of 2008
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment³

Related Content

• Learn more about the Utah Basic Skills & Competency Test>> 

Criterion-Referenced Test
end-of-year exam

Students in almost every grade take a Criterion Referenced Test to assess their mastery of Utah's Core Curriculum.  The CRT is used as part of the No Child Left Behind to assess school performance.

As the graphs indicate, a consistent achievement gap for both minority and low-income students exists in each subject area at all grade levels.

% of Students Proficient in MATH
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability⁴

% of Students Proficient in SCIENCE
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability⁴

% of Students Proficient in LANGUAGE ARTS
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability⁴

Related Content

• Learn more about the Criterion-Referenced Tests>>
  

Direct Writing Assessment
6th and 9th grade

Students in 6th and 9th grade take the Direct Writing Assessment (DWA) to assess their writing skills.  The DWA is used as part of the No Child Left Behind to assess school performance.

As the graphs indicate, an achievement gap for both minority and low-income students exists in writing.

% of Students Proficient in WRITING, 6th Grade
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability^5,6

% of Students Proficient in WRITING, 9th Grade
Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability^5,6

Related Content

• Learn more about the Direct Writing Assessment>>

SOURCES

1. Utah Foundation, Research Brief, "Improving Teacher Quality in Utah,"August 21, 2008.  Accessed at: http://www.utahfoundation.org/briefs/2008_06_teacher_quality.html
2. National Assessment of Education Progress, The Nation's Report Card, Mathematics.  Accessed at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/
3. Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability, "Utah Basic Skills and Competency Test, 2007-2008."  Accessed at: http://www.schools.utah.gov/assessment/documents/UBSCT_2007-2008.pdf
4. Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability, "Four Year State CRT Report, 2004-2007."  Accessed at: http://www.schools.utah.gov/assessment/documents/Results_CRT_State_Perc_Prof_04-07.pdf
5. Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability, "State DWA Report, 2004-2006."  Accessed at: http://www.schools.utah.gov/assessment/documents/Results_DWA_State_2007.pdf
6. Utah State Office of Education - Assessment & Accountability, "State DWA Report, 2006-2008."  Accessed at: http://www.schools.utah.gov/assessment/documents/Results_DWA_State_2008.pdf
7. National Assessment of Education Progress, The Nation's Report Card: Writing, State Results, Average Score Map.  Accessed at: http://nationsreportcard.gov/writing_2007/w0005.asp?subtab_id=Tab_6&tab_id=tab1#chart