West Virginia Chamber Reacts to Disappointing 2022 NAEP Scores

October 24, 2022

Charleston, W.Va. – An analysis of the just-released National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows West Virginia trails the nation in 4th and 8th Grade Reading and Math. The report, normally released biannually, was released today for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. West Virginia students dropped on all four average scores for 4th and 8th Grade Reading and Math when compared to 2019, the year of the previous report.

West Virginia Chamber President Steve Roberts stated, “The West Virginia Chamber has been tracking NAEP scores going back to 2003. Specifically we look at the percentage of students who are considered “at or above proficient” as a benchmark for how students are grasping the core subjects of Reading and Math. The information released today was disheartening.”

The results for the 4 key benchmarks are as follows:

  • 4th Grade Reading: 22.3% at or above proficient (Ranked 50th in nation)
  • 8th Grade Reading: 21.7% at or above proficient (Ranked 49th in nation)
  • 4th Grade Math: 22.8% at or above proficient (Ranked 50th in nation)
  • 8th Grade Math: 15.1% at or above proficient (Ranked 50th in nation)

Roberts continued, “Our West Virginia students and their teachers are among our most precious assets. These results should alert us to the steep challenges facing educators and students. We must seek solutions that are good for our children and that enable teachers to teach effectively. The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping improve education throughout our state. These scores clearly show something must urgently change. Good teachers should be empowered, rewarded and allowed to do what they know best – teach.”

Members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce are your small business neighbors. Chamber members employ over half of our state’s workforce and are found in every county and region of our state. More information on the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.wvchamber.com.