| State-by-state glance at the percentage of fourth- and eighth-grade students who scored at or above proficiency levels in reading. Proficient is defined as representing solid academic performance and demonstrating competency over the subject matter. |
| State Fourth Grade Eighth Grade |
| 2005 2007 2005 2007 |
| Ala. 22 29 22 21 |
| Alaska 27 29 26 27 |
| Ariz. 24 24 23 24 |
| Ark. 30 29 26 25 |
| Calif. 21 23 21 21 |
| Colo. 37 36 32 35 |
| Conn. 38 41 34 37 |
| Del. 34 34 30 31 |
| D.C. 11 14 12 12 |
| Fla. 30 34 25 28 |
| Ga. 26 28 25 26 |
| Hawaii 23 26 18 20 |
| Idaho 33 35 32 32 |
| Ill. 29 32 31 30 |
| Ind. 30 33 28 31 |
| Iowa 33 36 34 36 |
| Kan. 32 36 35 35 |
| Ky. 31 33 31 28 |
| La. 20 20 20 19 |
| Maine 35 36 38 37 |
| Md. 32 36 30 33 |
| Mass. 44 49 44 43 |
| Mich. 32 32 28 28 |
| Minn. 38 37 37 37 |
| Miss. 18 19 18 17 |
| Mo. 33 32 31 31 |
| Mont. 36 39 37 39 |
| Neb. 34 35 35 35 |
| Nev. 21 24 22 22 |
| N.H. 39 41 38 37 |
| N.J. 37 43 38 39 |
| N.M. 20 24 19 17 |
| N.Y. 33 36 33 32 |
| N.C. 29 29 27 28 |
| N.D. 35 35 37 32 |
| Ohio 34 36 36 36 |
| Okla. 25 27 25 26 |
| Ore. 29 28 33 34 |
| Pa. 36 40 36 36 |
| R.I. 30 31 29 27 |
| S.C. 26 26 25 25 |
| S.D. 33 34 35 37 |
| Tenn. 27 27 26 26 |
| Texas 29 30 26 28 |
| Utah 34 34 29 30 |
| Vt. 39 41 37 42 |
| Va. 37 38 36 34 |
| Wash. 36 36 34 34 |
| W.Va. 26 28 22 23 |
| Wis. 33 36 35 33 |
| Wyoming 34 36 36 33 |
| Nation (public) 30 32 29 29 |
| Represents a statistically significant difference between 2005 and 2007. |
| ___ |
| Source: Department of Education |
Source: AP News
