DoD Schools Ranked Best in the United States on Nation's Report Card

Fourth and eighth-grade students attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools led the nation in scoring on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading and Mathematics Assessments. 

DoDEA students' average scale scores ranged from 15 to 23 points higher than all corresponding national average scores and held steady or increased while all national average scores decreased. DoDEA was the only state/jurisdiction to see a score increase for any grade/subject on the first NAEP administered since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

"I am incredibly proud of DoDEA students' performance on the 2022 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Assessments," said Gilbert Cisneros, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. "This year's scores are the result of a six-year commitment to rigorous College and Career Ready Standards curriculum, combined with an exceptionally dedicated team of teachers and administrators, support staff, and military-connected students who displayed tremendous grit and resilience over the past two and a half years.

"DoDEA leaders focused on equity of access and continuity of instruction during the early stages of the pandemic with a rapid transition to remote learning, then worked to create conditions that enabled students to start returning to classrooms by the beginning of School Year 20-21," said Cisneros. "Their work, coupled with strong partnership from military commands and parents, directly supported military readiness by allowing service members with students in DoDEA schools to remain focused on their military missions.

"DoDEA's emphasis on equity in education is reflected in higher scores across their diverse population and achievement gaps that are significantly smaller than the rest of the nation. I am particularly pleased to see those efforts reflected in Black and Hispanic student groups that are outperforming the nation overall," said Cisneros.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, often referred to as "The Nation's Report Card" is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. NAEP does not provide scores for individual students or schools; instead, it offers results regarding subject-matter achievement, instructional experiences, and school environment for populations of students (e.g., fourth graders) and groups within those populations (e.g., Hispanic students). NAEP results are based on a sample of student populations of interest.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-age children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Agencies throughout the United States that serve children of military families.

For more information on DoDEA or DoDEA's 2022 NAEP results, visit www.dodea.edu or contact [email protected].