Louisiana students made record-breaking strides in national education ranks.

The Louisiana Department of Education announced on Wednesday that Louisiana experienced an “unprecedented” rise in ranks on the “Nation’s Report Card” – the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report by the National Centers for Education Statistics.

The NAEP 2024 mathematics and reading assessments tracks the proficiency of fourth and eighth graders.

The state’s most significant rank improvement was in fourth-grade reading. Louisiana ranked 16th in 2024. In 2022, the state was ranked at 42. In 2019, 50th. Results also found that Louisiana led the nation in reading growth for the second time in a row.

“This is a historic achievement for our state and underscores the dedication of teachers and a laser focus on fundamental academic skills,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley in a release. “While we are obviously pleased, we are not completely satisfied as there is more work to accomplish.”

Louisiana saw improvements in the other three subject areas. In grade 4 math, the rank improved from 50th in 2019 to 44th in 2022, and then to 38th in 2024. For grade 8 math, the rank moved from 49th in 2019 to 45th in 2022, to 43rd in 2024. In grade 8 reading, the ranks were 45th in 2019, 39th in 2022, and 29th in 2024.

Fourth-graders were in the top five in the nation for math growth, with a total of 15 states improving in math. Louisiana is one of two states where students exceeded 2019 scores in both reading and math.

Overall, Louisiana ranked 32. This is the highest the state has ranked on the list.

“Just five years ago we were at number 49 and to move up to number 32 in just a short period of time just goes to the hard work and dedication of all our teachers and educators, the principals, the superintendents, and everyone up and down the line that have made all of this possible,” Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) District 7 Representative Kevin Berken told the American Press in a statement.

The gains are also a testament to the state’s decision to “get back to the basics,” he said.

The Science of Reading – a collection of ever-evolving multidisciplinary research on reading and literacy – and foundational math instruction principals ground the state’s curriculum in basic skills for students.

An emphasis on arming teachers with research, methods and tools in the classroom was also noted in the release, highlighting the use of “Louisiana’s Special Education Playbook for System Leaders” that has aided teachers in educating students with disabilities.

“Our BESE board of elementary and secondary education has passed sweeping changes to the accountability system that I believe will propel us (to) even higher numbers here in the future focusing on those basic groups of math, reading, science, social studies,” he said.

He also noted BESE-passed legislation that prohibits cell phone usage and removes “disruptive” students from classrooms, both Let Teachers Teach recommendations – 18 recommendations workshopped by educators to support teachers in the classroom.

With BESE, LDOE, the legislature and the governor’s office aligned, the state is positioned for a smooth trajectory of change, he said.

“We’re all pulling the cart in the same direction and whenever everyone’s doing the right things for the right reasons, they will have great results like we’ve had this time around.”