Vermont’s children write better than most of their peers around the country. The results are from the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress writing test.
The exam was given to fourth and eighth graders from across Vermont earlier this year. Some 41% of the state’s eighth graders achieved a proficient rating, compared to a national average of 30% that received the same rating. Vermont fourth graders also did better than most of their peers.
But state education officials say there were some gender differences in the test results. Vermont fourth-grade girls scored on average 22 points higher than their male counterparts, and in grade 8 that lead jumped to 24 points.