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NAEP Results Demonstrate Continued Improvement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2025

NAEP Results Demonstrate Continued Improvement as DPSCD is one of the most Improved Large Urban School Districts in 8th grade reading (5th of 25) and 4th grade math (10th of 25) and Continues to Narrow the Gap between the District and Michigan in Each Tested Area 

  • DPSCD declined 2 points in 4th grade reading from 2022 to 2024, while national public, large city districts, and the state averages declined as well. 4th grade students unfortunately experienced significant learning loss during critical years of literacy foundation development due to pandemic online learning. The District’s decline was considered not statistically significant.
  • DPSCD demonstrated a +6-point improvement in 4th grade math from 2022 to 2024, which outpaced the improvement shown by national public, large city districts, and state averages. The District’s improvement was considered statistically significant.
  • DPSCD demonstrated a +2.4-point improvement in 8th grade reading, while the national public, large city districts, and the state averages declined. The District’s improvement was considered not statistically significant.
  • DPSCD declined 1.1 points in 8th grade math from 2022 to 2024, while national public, large urban school district, and state averages declined as well. The District’s decline was considered not statistically significant.

DETROIT – January 29, 2025 – Results from this year’s administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) also known as “the nation’s report card” -- were released today in Washington, D.C. 8th grade reading improvement for Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) placed the District among the top five large urban school districts who participate in the exam in overall growth. The District was also one of the strongest in the nation in improvement in 4th grade math with a significant six-point increase since 2022 (NAEP is administered to a national sample every two years).  Overall, the District narrowed the gap in performance with the State of Michigan in each area tested in reading and math, while outpacing improvement or mirroring declines with the national public and large urban school district averages.

“Our 8th grade reading and 4th grade math 2024 NAEP results reflect the improvement that we are seeing on all state assessment results over the last two years since the pandemic. We are now in the conversation as an improving large urban school district, but we still have plenty of work to do. Clearly, the declines we saw in 4th grade reading were due to online pandemic literacy instruction but at the same time the improvement in 8th grade reading speaks to the District’s systemic improvement when considering that those same students overcame the pandemic through the exposure to literacy grade level content since 3rd grade. To address the elephant in the room, we still rank last among TUDA districts in each tested area. However, we narrowed the gap between the District and the State in each tested area and with each district performing slightly above us in 3 of the 4 tested areas,” said Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. “We are undoubtedly improving. We are committed to accelerating and scaling that improvement by overcoming the challenges of chronic absenteeism. It’s evident that students missing less than 18 days of school are three to five times more likely to be at and above grade level performers in our District.”

In fourth grade reading and eighth grade math, results were not significantly different than the previous year’s test, mirroring post-pandemic recovery challenges seen across other large-city districts. Students who took NAEP in 4th grade in 2024 were in kindergarten or first grade and learning virtually or were not yet enrolled in school when the pandemic started. District data indicates that chronic absenteeism continues to contribute to declines, on par with the national chronic absenteeism crisis, NAEP results reflect significant performance gaps for students who regularly miss school. NAEP surveying also continues to identify the City as one with the greatest levels of concentrated economic poverty.

Even so, national leaders see promising signs for the District overall. “Detroit Public Schools Community District had a significant gain in fourth grade mathematics and recovered at a faster rate than Michigan and public schools nationally,” said Dr. Ray Hart, Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools. “Notably, the district made greater progress than public schools nationally in eighth grade reading. Their 2024 scores show that federal, state, and local investments in education are benefiting students, families, and the community. The district’s overall performance on NAEP should encourage the school board, administration, and staff to remain steadfast in their goals for improving outcomes for all students.”

Under Superintendent Vitti’s leadership, the District implemented a comprehensive post-pandemic recovery plan, including targeted intervention programs and expanded wrap around and support services through its Health Hubs. Building on the successful implementation of new ELA and math curricula, the District continues to refine interventions that address unfinished learning -- particularly important for students who began their schooling during the pandemic, including more one on one and small group literacy intervention during the school day in grades K-2.

Last year, The Educational Recovery Scorecard—a research initiative from Stanford and Harvard—recognized DPSCD for outpacing national pandemic recovery trends in both reading and math, particularly among economically disadvantaged students. The report also identified that DPSCD students were closing the learning loss gap at a faster rate than peers in districts with greater resources. Those findings align with this year’s NAEP progress.

“Despite historical and ongoing state funding gaps to address out community’s concentrated poverty, our school district is improving. No one thinks we have arrived, but we are closer than we were before this School Board and Superintendent assumed the responsibility to rebuild a school district that was devasted by Emergency Management and ineffective leadership. Our updated Strategic Plan, coupled with strong leadership focused on continuous improvement and an improved climate and culture for our employees, parents, and students will ensure the upward trajectory we continue to see,” said Board President Bishop Dr. Corletta Vaughn.

NAEP is administered every two years to a representative sample of fourth and eighth grade students nationwide. Detroit Public Schools Community District has participated in NAEP since 2009, and these 2024 results mark the second administration since the major disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on NAEP or to view detailed results, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/tuda/.