Below are the point changes in the gap between top- and bottom-quartile scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress for 4th grade reading, 1992-1998. The numbers shown in red indicate statistically significant changes. Down arrows represent widening gaps.
| State | Gap between average score of top and bottom quartiles in 1998 | Change in the gap between 1992 and 1998 |
| Alabama | 86 | 2 |
| Arizona | 96 | 15 6 |
| Arkansas | 90 | 7 6 |
| California | 102 | 5 |
| Colorado | 80 | 6 6 |
| Connecticut | 75 | -4 |
| Delaware | 83 | 0 |
| Florida | 96 | 13 6 |
| Georgia | 91 | 5 6 |
| Hawaii | 96 | 10 6 |
| Iowa | 76 | 4 |
| Kentucky | 81 | 3 |
| Louisiana | 88 | 12 6 |
| Maine | 71 | 7 6 |
| Maryland | 91 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 75 | 6 6 |
| Michigan | 81 | 4 |
| Minnesota | 86 | 11 6 |
| Mississippi | 84 | 1 |
| Missouri | 85 | 10 6 |
| New Hampshire | 75 | 6 6 |
| New Mexico | 94 | 12 6 |
| NewYork | 86 | 2 |
| North Carolina | 81 | -7 5 |
| Oklahoma | 75 | 5 6 |
| Rhode Island | 86 | 6 |
| South Carolina | 83 | 1 |
| Tennessee | 87 | 8 6 |
| Texas | 83 | 3 |
| Utah | 83 | 11 6 |
| Virginia | 82 | 4 |
| West Virginia | 82 | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 71 | 1 |
| Wyoming | 76 | 5 |
| District of Columbia | 98 | 10 |
| Virgin Islands | 90 | 5 |
| “The Nation’s Report Card: Fourth-Grade Reading 2000" is available on the Web at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard , or by calling (877) 433-7827. “Raising Achievement and Reducing Gaps: Reporting Progress Toward Goals for Achievement,” is available from the National Education Goals Panel at www.negp.org. | ||
