The report presents results of the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in geography. National results for representative samples of students at grades 4, 8, and 12 are reported as average scale scores and as percentages of students performing at or above three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Scores are also reported for selected percentiles, showing changes in the performance of lower-, middle-, and higher-performing students. Results for student demographic groups defined by various characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, and students' eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunch) are included, as well as sample assessment questions with examples of student responses. Results from the 2010 assessment are compared to those from two previous assessments in 1994 and 2001. The Technical Notes and appendix tables provide information on NAEP samples, school and student participation rates, and the exclusion and accommodation of students with disabilities and English language learners. In comparison to the last assessment in 2001, average scores in 2010 were higher at grade 4 and not significantly different at grades 8 and 12. Gains for Black students from 1994 to 2010 contributed to a narrowing of the White – Black score gaps at grades 4 and 8. Gains for Hispanic students from 1994 to 2010 contributed to a narrowing of the White – Hispanic score gap at grade 4. The percentage of students performing at or above the Proficient level in 2010 was 21 percent at grade 4, 27 percent at grade 8, and 20 percent at grade 12.
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