School & District Management Report Roundup

NAEP Economics Results Highlight Proficiency Gaps

By Erik W. Robelen — May 07, 2013 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

More than half of American 12th graders lack proficiency in economics, according to new results from “the nation’s report card,” with no overall change in performance when compared with results from 2006, the last time the assessment was administered.

In all, 43 percent of high school seniors scored “proficient” or above on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in economics, which covers such topics as personal finance, business, government policy, and international trade. The results were released last month.

While the average score of 12th graders held steady, the data show some improvements from 2006. For instance, the percentage of students scoring below the “basic” level decreased from 21 percent in 2006 to 18 percent six years later. The percentage of Hispanic students scoring at or above basic grew from 64 percent to 71 percent, but that growth was not considered statistically significant.

In a conference call with reporters, National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Sean P. “Jack” Buckley suggested that Hispanic students’ improvement may be explained by improved literacy skills rather than better understanding of economics.

The data show a persistent gender gap in economics, with boys on average scoring 6 points higher than girls on the NAEP scale of 0 to 300.

The results also show big gaps by race, ethnicity, and income, consistent with the patterns across all NAEP subjects. For example, 53 percent of white students scored proficient or above, compared with just 17 percent of African-American students and 26 percent of Hispanic students. Looked at another way, four out of 10 black students scored “below basic,” as compared with one in 10 white students.

The new NAEP economics results came just a week after the Council of Economic Education issued a set of national standards for financial literacy at the K-12 level.

A version of this article appeared in the May 08, 2013 edition of Education Week as NAEP Economics Results Highlight Proficiency Gaps

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management How Principals Can Boost Teacher Morale
Principals share advice for how they support teachers during uncertain times.
4 min read
Vector illustration of a large handing holding an open book with silhouetted women and men standing on the pages of the open book.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion Denver Superintendent: Why We Sued the Federal Government
Education leaders shouldn't remain apolitical in the face of immigration enforcement changes and other threats from the Trump administration.
Alex Marrero
6 min read
Human hands created secure environment for children via home roof gesture. Adults taking care of vulnerable students.
Mary Long/iStock + Education Week
School & District Management Food and Massage Coupons: How Principals Signal Their Appreciation for Teachers
Small gestures can go a long way this Teacher Appreciation Week.
5 min read
Image of a notebook page with "THANK YOU TEACHER" written with some doodles and smiley faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Be a Focused Leader When There’s a Lot of Noise
Burnout, attrition, absenteeism, and disengagement are key issues for schools. Here's a path forward for educators.
3 min read
Screen Shot 2025 04 29 at 6.54.09 AM
Canva