Kidsdata Advisory, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health

Highlighting new and noteworthy data from kidsdata.org
The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health | July 22, 2010

Only Half of 3rd Graders Proficient in Reading; 1 in 3 Students Proficient in Algebra

Just Added to Kidsdata.org: Math and Reading Proficiency Data for CA Students

Although California has seen steady gains among students in both math and reading proficiency since 2005, fewer than half of the state’s 3rd graders are proficient in reading – and only 1 in 3 students in grades 7-11 are proficient in Algebra I. In addition, disparities exist across all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Research indicates that reading proficiency at the end of third grade is predictive of later academic success. Mastery of algebra is a prerequisite for the higher level math classes that give students access to college and many careers, and is itself associated with higher earnings in adulthood.

View the New Data on Math and Reading

by: Race/Ethnicity | Socioeconomic Status

Third Grade Student Proficiency on English Language Arts CST
- by: English Language Fluency | Race/Ethnicity | Socioeconomic Status

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Key Facts

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The percentage of proficient CA students increased for both math and reading across all racial/ethnic groups from 2005 to 2009.

Proficiency in both math and reading among economically disadvantaged CA students increased steadily from 2005 to 2009.

In 2009, 28 percent of CA students were proficient in Algebra I, with many counties ranking lower.

Statewide, Asian students are more likely to be proficient in Algebra I than any other racial/ethnic group; four times more likely to be proficient than African American students and three times more likely to be proficient than Hispanic students.
Higher income kids are more than twice as likely to be proficient at reading than lower income kids.

Fewer than one in four Hispanic CA third graders read at or above the 50th percentile, the lowest of any racial/ethnic group.

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