National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2011 Missouri Math and Reading

Fifty-nine percent of Missouri fourth graders were not proficient in math and 66 percent were not proficient in reading in 2011, according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, the most respected nationwide test. For minorities, the stats are more abysmal: Only 14 percent of African-American fourth graders are proficient in reading or math. Missouri's average student test scores remained near the national average, while its minority student scores were well below the national average. Even fewer students are proficient in these basic subjects in eighth and twelfth grades.