DC Education Research Collaborative member EmpowerK12 recently updated their DC NAEP Dashboard, an interactive tool designed to help educators, policymakers, and the public better understand student achievement trends in Washington, D.C. The dashboard presents results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as the "Nation’s Report Card," which provides a comprehensive look at student performance over time. Administered every two years, the NAEP assessment tests fourth and eighth grade students in mathematics and reading, and are reported at the state and select district level. By visualizing math and reading proficiency trends, demographic breakdowns, and comparisons with other urban districts, the dashboard offers insights into how DC students are progressing and where gaps remain. This resource helps stakeholders analyze long-term trends, assess the impact of education policies, and identify areas for targeted improvement.

EmpowerK12 also conducted its own analysis of national and DC trends. Overall, they report “this year's findings paint a concerning picture of post-pandemic academic recovery in the United States and remarkably consistent progress in DC when compared to the nation.” While still earning lower scores on the assessment than the national average, DC students are performing comparably to students in other large cities nationwide in reading for grades 4 and 8, and in math for grade 4. Additionally, compared to 2022, the average score for DC students either improved (grade 4 math) or stayed the same (grade 8 math, grade 4 and 8 reading), while nationwide scores in reading declined. Importantly, EmpowerK12 explored results and trends by student demographics and prior performance, revealing key differences in performance that might otherwise be lost if only District-wide averages were considered.

Explore the dashboard here: DC NAEP Dashboard

Explore the analysis here: DC’s Progress on the 2024 Nation’s Report Card