The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released the 2011 National Indian Education Study, highlighting the condition of education for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students in 12 states. On average, there was no statistically significant change in AI/AN scores between 2009 and 2011 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading. The score gap between AI/AN students and non-AI/AN students increased, however, on the fourth- and eighth-grade math assessment and the fourth-grade reading assessment. The gap remained level between the two groups in eighth-grade reading.
On the reading NAEP, 47% of AI/AN fourth graders and 62% of eighth graders scored at the basic or higher level. Oregon and Oklahoma were the states with the highest percentage of AI/AN students scoring at least basic in fourth and eighth grade, respectively; Alaska had the lowest percentage scoring at least basic in both grades.
On the math NAEP, 66% of AI/AN fourth graders and 57% of eighth graders scored at basic or higher. Oklahoma had the highest percentage of students scoring at least basic in both grades; Alaska and Utah had the lowest percentage of students scoring at least basic in fourth and eighth grades, respectively.