We're not No. 1, but we're so much closer.
A few days ago, we got someÌý.
, Louisiana has climbed from an Ìýon something commonly called "the nation's report card."
Of all of the 50 states in this nation, Louisiana is being hailed as an education LEADER because our state has fourth graders who led the country in math and reading progress on theÌýNational Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, test. It's the highest such test scores we've ever seen.Ìý
That's great news.
Louisiana ranked 49th five years ago, and now we're doing much better. Something is working.
Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, speaks during a press conference regarding the latest results for The Nation’s Report Card at Magnolia Woods Elementary on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Last year state enrollment data showed more than 49,200 fourth graders and more than 49,400 eighth graders enrolled in our schools. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, tests were administered at 141 schools, including 71 schools with students in eighth grade and 70 schools with students in fourth grade.ÌýThe sample size was about 4,000 students for each grade.
Our fourth graders are 16th in the recently released , leaping 26 places. Though our eighth graders' reading scores didn't see a significant change, they went up 10 places to snatch the 29th position.
This didn't happen in a single school year — or even in two years.
In 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic, then-Gov. John Bel Edwards called for support of early childhood education to give our children an education jump-start. That year, the state legislature passed and the governor signed several education bills into law. There was broad bipartisan support.
In August 2024, Gov. Jeff Landry delivered a in Bossier City. He talked about crime, the economy and education. He said improving the state's education rankings was a priority.Ìý
When the good news was announced Wednesday, Landry andÌýstate Superintendent Cade Brumley crowed about the progress.
This is a good time to pause and cheer our state success and our national recognition. But only briefly.
DOE attributes the success to a comprehensive literacy plan with a phonics focus and strong teacher training connected to the science of reading, a basic math mastery skill approach with time and tools to succeed and a special education playbook educators use to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Edwards, Landry and Brumley can each take some credit, recognizing their short-term and longer-term roles. DOE's progress must be evaluated. Whatever worked needs to be supported. What needs adjustment should be changed.
And this success must be duplicated with other education measurements.
Testing is an important performance indicator. It's a snapshot of a portion of our students to see how they're doing, to improve their potentialÌý— and our future.
Our 2017 fourth graders were on track to be in 11th grade in 2024. Our 2017 eighth graders were on track to graduate in 2021, and perhaps a number pursued higher education.
Meanwhile, let's applaud those closest to our fourth and eighth graders — our teachers.
