Social Studies

Do You Know as Much as an 8th Grader About Civics? Quiz Yourself

By Marina Whiteleather — May 09, 2023 1 min read
Messed up puzzle pieces of an American flag on a dark blue background
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Recently released results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test—also known as the “Nation’s Report Card”—mark the first time that 8th grade civics scores declined in nearly 25 years.

EdWeek Staff Writer Sarah Schwartz noted in a recent article covering the results, History Achievement Falls to 1990s Levels on NAEP; Civics Scores Take First-Ever Dive, that the findings are the first national data on students’ social studies achievement since the pandemic began.

A follow-up article, Understanding the Sharp Drop in History and Civics NAEP Scores: 4 Things to Know, Schwartz unpacks the context: how these scores compare to declines in other subjects, the decades-long marginalization of the subject, and ongoing challenges of carving out intentional instructional time for civics education.

Below are some questions included in the recent NAEP test on civics. Test your knowledge and see how your results compare to the grade 8 students who took the test in spring 2022.

Then check out our other coverage of civics education, including our award-winning Citizen Z project.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2022 Civics & U.S. History Assessments at Grade 8.

Related Tags:

Events

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
School & District Management Webinar
The Principal's Role in Collective Efficacy and Student Outcomes
Learn practical strategies that help principals translate their confidence into stronger collective teacher efficacy and student outcomes.
Content provided by Otus
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
Education Funding Webinar
What Schools Need to Know About the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit
What schools need to know about the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit: A practical guide from a licensed teacher and policy expert.
Content provided by LearningSpring
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
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Building Your School Safety Roadmap: Key Priorities for the Upcoming Year
What should be on your school's safety roadmap this year? Join experts to discuss priorities, preparedness, and best practices.
Content provided by Evolv Technology & IdentiSys

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

Social Studies Trump Admin. Calls Popular Smithsonian History Teaching Materials 'Radical'
The White House criticized the Smithsonian's classroom lessons. But some teachers say the materials are invaluable.
5 min read
Children look at the Star Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the lyrics of the American national anthem, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Washington.
Children look at the Star Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the lyrics of the American national anthem, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on June 10, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo
Social Studies Most Schools Report Teaching Civics. But Hands-On Lessons Aren't as Common
Only 13% of district leaders say their schools require "experiential" civics learning.
3 min read
Students at Hudson Primary School study about what it means to be a citizen during the 2024-25 academic year. The Pasco County school district is expanding its civics education program amid a state and national push to do so.
Students at Hudson Primary School study about what it means to be a citizen in this March 24, 2026 photo. The Pasco County school district is expanding its civics education program amid a state and national push to do so.
Jeffrey S. Solochek/Tampa Bay Times via TNS
Social Studies Opinion America at 250: Our Classrooms Are Too Quiet
Respectful disagreement is an essential habit for self-governance. Can schools recover it?
David J. Bobb
•
5 min read
Student hands hold speech bubbles, they contribute to an exchange of ideas. Each one contains the colors of the flag of the United States of America. Civics education.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty
Social Studies Letter to the Editor Geography Is More Than Memorization
Knowing basic information is just a start, says a geography professor.
1 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week