The Proficiency in Reading and Math data from EDFacts measures the percentage of students meeting state-defined proficiency standards on annual assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics. Reported at state, district, and school levels, and disaggregated by grade and student subgroups, it serves as a key indicator of educational quality. This metric is critical because proficiency in reading and math predicts long-term academic success, high school graduation, and workforce readiness. It also highlights achievement gaps among demographic groups, informing policies to improve equity and strengthen a city’s economic and educational outcomes.
Reading and math proficiency rates are powerful predictors of future educational attainment and earning potential. Cities with higher proficiency rates produce better-prepared workforces, which attract businesses, strengthen local tax bases, and support sustainable public services, including those that retirees depend on—such as healthcare, transportation, and social programs. Conversely, low proficiency rates lead to higher dropout rates, lower lifetime earnings, and reduced economic growth, creating fiscal strain that can impact retirement security for the entire community.
Why does this matter?
- Academic Achievement Benchmark
- Reading and math proficiency rates reflect how effectively schools are preparing students with foundational skills critical for future learning and employment.
- Predictor of Long-Term Success
- Research links early proficiency, especially in third-grade reading, to higher graduation rates and improved career outcomes.1
- Research links early proficiency, especially in third-grade reading, to higher graduation rates and improved career outcomes.1
- Equity and Opportunity Gaps
- Subgroup data highlight achievement gaps among different racial, socioeconomic, and linguistic groups, guiding targeted interventions.2
- Economic and Workforce Implications
- Higher proficiency correlates with better college readiness and workforce competitiveness, making this data vital for a city’s long-term economic health.
- A one standard deviation increase in 8th-grade math achievement is associated with an 8% rise in adult earnings, higher educational attainment, lower unemployment, and reduced rates of teen motherhood and incarceration.3
1 Alliance for Excellent Education. (2011). The Economic Benefits from Halving the Dropout Rate.
https://all4ed.org/reports-factsheets/the-economic-benefits-from-halving-the-dropout-rate/.
2 Hanushek, E. A., & Woessmann, L. (2012). Do Better Schools Lead to More Growth? Cognitive Skills, Economic Outcomes, and Causation. Journal of Economic Growth, 17(4), 267–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-012-9081-x
3 Kane, T., Doty E., Patterson, T., Staiger, D., (2022) What Do Changes in State Test Scores Imply for Later Life Outcomes? Cambridge, MA: Center for Education Policy Research, Harvard University