Catholic Schools Surpass Public Schools in 2024 National Test Scores for Math and Reading Across the United States

Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows that Catholic schools have outperformed public schools in both mathematics and reading for 2024.

The new report, known as the Nation’s Report Card, compared the test scores of fourth- and eighth-grade students in both types of schools, revealing a consistent advantage for Catholic schools.

Strong Performance Across Grade Levels

When it comes to fourth-grade math, Catholic school students scored 247, while their public school counterparts earned a score of 237. In reading, Catholic schools outpaced public schools by a significant 16 points.

This trend continues in eighth-grade assessments as well, where Catholic school students scored 21 points higher in math and 20 points higher in reading.

Public Schools Struggling to Recover Post-Pandemic

The report also highlights that public school scores have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, with particular concern over the decline in public school reading scores.

This continuing gap between public and Catholic schools is especially noticeable in the wake of the COVID-19 disruptions, which caused significant setbacks for students across the country.

Consistent Excellence in Catholic Education

Catholic schools have consistently outperformed public schools in national tests over the last few decades.

The data from the 2024 NAEP assessment is just the latest in a long series of strong performances by Catholic schools that date back to the 1990s.

The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) recently pointed to these scores, praising Catholic schools for their excellence in education.

The Focus of Catholic Education

In a press release, NCEA President and CEO Steven Cheeseman emphasized that Catholic schools are committed not only to academic achievement but also to the moral and spiritual formation of their students.

He pointed out that the primary goal of Catholic education is to “form saints,” indicating the focus on character and values alongside academic performance.

The results of the 2024 NAEP assessment show that Catholic schools continue to lead the way in preparing students for academic success, reinforcing the longstanding reputation of Catholic education in the United States.