Nevada’s third through eighth grade students made modest gains in reading and math last school year. That’s according to the Nevada Department of Education’s annual Report Card, posted Monday. However, despite the gains, the data also show that less than half of all students are proficient in math and English.
Overall math scores are up about 1.3%, but only a third of Nevada students are considered proficient. Reading saw a smaller improvement — only a third of a percent — but greater overall proficiency, with 41% of students able to read at grade level.
Schools saw the biggest gains in reducing chronic absenteeism. Last year, roughly 25% of students missed at least 10 days of instruction, down 9% from the previous school year.
Ann Marie Dickson is the Deputy Superintendent for Student Achievement with the Nevada Department of Education. She said school districts across the state are working to rebuild relationships with students and families.
“What we hear from students is that they need to feel connected, they need to feel that they have a reason to come to school. And with the isolation that took place during the pandemic, not all of our students or our families have that same connectedness to their schools.”
Chronic absenteeism hit a peak of 36% during the 2021-2022 academic school year when many districts were still conducting hybrid instruction.
