Every state ranked by its math and reading test scores, from worst to best

Massachusetts ranked first in all four NAEP categories (fourth-grade reading, fourth-grade math, eighth-grade reading, and eighth-grade math). The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data, released in January 2025, shows state-by-state performance in 2024, with Business Insider ranking states based on average scale scores ranging from 0 to 500. New Mexico, Alaska, West Virginia, and Oklahoma ranked lowest among the 50 states.