Austin ISD's fourth- and eighth graders top the chart in math

Austin ISD’s fourth graders and eighth graders outperformed those in other large, urban districts on national math tests, according to a report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

Austin and Charlotte, N.C., had the highest scores in fourth grade and eighth grade math among 18 large-city school districts that voluntarily participated in the urban trial of NAEP’s “The Nation’s Report Card.”

Austin ISD’s eighth graders topped the list in math performance, and the district’s fourth graders were second only to Charlotte. Austin ISD also was one of only two districts, the other being San Diego, to raise its eighth grade math scores since the test was last given, in 2007.

The test — the only continuous nationally representative assessment of what U.S. students know and can do in various subject areas — is given to a sampling of students in each state. The urban test comparison was released in 2003; Austin ISD first participated in 2005.

Eighteen school districts participated in the voluntary trial. Houston ISD was the only other Texas district that participated this year.