NAEP releases 2022 U.S. History and Civics results, revealing low confidence in civics knowledge

CONCORD, NH — Today, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often known as the Nation’s Report Card, released the results of the eighth-grade 2022 NAEP U.S. History and Civics assessment. 

Nationwide, average scores declined in U.S. history and civics for eighth-graders compared to 2018, with civics scores declining for the first time since the assessment began in 1998. The newest results continue a decades-long stagnation in civics and decline in U.S. history scores. Understanding U.S. history and civics is critical to participating in a constitutional republic and living up to our nation’s ideals. The nation has seen long-term static and declining performance in math, English and now U.S. history and civics.

“Schools certainly have a core role to play in instruction around citizenship knowledge and skills, but the long-term trends – as well as the recent decline – raise this as a concern well beyond the doors of the school,” said Frank Edelblut, education commissioner. “We must ask fundamental questions about how we are educating our youth, and use the data to propel change and growth. While we are disappointed with the results, simply asking schools to do more of the same – the things that brought us here – cannot be a strategy for improvement. The results make it clear that, as a society, we are not serving our students well.”

•    In 2022, 22% of students nationally performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in civics; 31% are below NAEP Basic. 
•    In 2022, 13% of students nationally performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in U.S. history; 40% of students are below NAEP Basic. 
•    In 2022, the magnitude of score declines since 2018 was greater for lower-performing students than the decline for higher-performing students nationwide.
•    The newest data reflects nationwide results.

The nationwide results are available at https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/civics/.