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NAEP 2019 High school Transcript Study Release Highlights

On March 16, 2022, the 2019 High School Transcript Study (HSTS) was released. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collected and analyzed transcripts from a representative sample of America's public and private high school graduates who participated in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The study examines the types of courses 2019 high school graduates took during high school, how many credits they earned, and the grades they received. Transcripts collected for the study constitute a nationally representative sample of 47,000 high school graduates from about 1,400 public and private schools. The link to view the study is: 2019 NAEP Highschool Transcript Study Release (nagb.gov)

  • The number of credits earned by high schools graduates was higher in 2019 compared to 1990 and 2009.
  • High school graduates earned more credits in English language and literature, mathematics, and life and physical science courses in 2019 compared to 2009, and 2019 marked the first time that high school graduates were averaging more than 4 credits in mathematics. However, graduates earned fewer credits in world language and literature courses in 2019 compared to 2009.
  • The overall average GPA earned by high school graduates in 2019 rose to 3.11, the highest mark among the reported years.
  • Female high school graduates earned a higher average overall GPA than male graduates in 2019, female graduates had an average overall GPA of 3.23 in 2019, which was higher than male graduates' average overall GPA of 3.00. The female-male average overall GPA gap in 2019 (0.23 points) was higher than the gap in 2009 (0.20 points).
  • Female high school graduates earned more credits in academic courses than male graduates in 1990, 2000, 2009, and 2019. 
  • The 2019 average overall GPAs of high school graduates in the four reported student racial/ethnic groups (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander) increased compared to each year for which there is GPA data (1990, 2000, and 2009). The gaps in average overall GPA between White high school graduates and graduates in other reported student racial/ethnic groups did not change significantly in 2019 compared to 2000 and 2009, though both the 2019 White-Black and White-Hispanic average overall GPA gaps have increased compared to 1990.
  • High school graduates in all reported racial/ethnic groups earned more credits in academic courses in 2019 than in 2009.
  • Compared to 2009, scores declined in NAEP mathematics for all high school students and for those graduates who attained a mid-level or rigorous curriculum.
  • The 2019 high school graduates whose highest level ninth-grade mathematics course completed was either Algebra I or Geometry had lower average NAEP mathematics assessment scores compared to 2005 and 2009 graduates.
  • High school graduates who attained a rigorous curriculum level scored, on average, at the NAEP Proficient achievement level on the NAEP twelfth-grade science assessment.
If you have any questions about the High School Transcript Study release or about NAEP in general, please contact:
Mr. Gary McIlvaine, AZ Director of NAEP
and International Assessments
602-364-1538
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1535 W. Jefferson, phoenix, AZ 85007

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