NAEP 2026
The NAEP 2026 administration is now complete. Of the randomly sampled schools and districts, Arizona had 100% participation. Schools throughout our great state were selected, from Yuma to Monument Valley; Lake Havasu to Tucson; and, of course, the 3rd largest primary sampling unit in the United States, Maricopa County. There were small schools, large schools, and charter schools. There was even one school sampled this past year that had only one 4th grade student. Every school in Arizona has a chance to be selected.
This year, over 220 schools were sampled in the various NAEP assessments in Arizona. Most selected schools participated in Math and Reading in Grades 4 and 8, assessments that are congressionally mandated and will be reported out as the Nation's Report Card with an expected release date of January 2027.
Ten schools in Arizona participated in a national sampling of 8th grade Civics and US History. That assessment will inform stakeholders what 8th grade students comprehend regarding Civics and US History content. A small sample of Arizona schools participated in the 12th grade Pilot assessment that was written to the newly revised Reading and Mathematics frameworks to provide the baseline for the data for future reporting of Grade 12 results across the United States.
We want to extend a big thank you to the school coordinators that made the assessments run smoothy in our state! The field staff had extraordinary things to say about our schools' participation. The Arizona Department of Education fully understands that NAEP is an "extra" duty that we ask of schools that are selected. District Test Coordinators ensured their schools understood the requirements and many of you helped the schools with data collected. Again, 100% participation happened because you all took the time to help NAEP complete the data collected and assessment.
NAEP 2027
The Arizona Department of Education has been informed by the National Center for Education Statistics that schools in Arizona are part of the NAEP 2027 Grade 8 Science Pilot assessment. NAEP Grade 8 Science has updated assessment frameworks that incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards. While this assessment is moving forward, districts and schools cannot be notified until such time as the Congressional Office of Management and Budget grants their full approval to NAEP 2027 Grade 8 Science documents.
NAEP 2026 by the Numbers
- 12,914 schools were assessed throughout the United States.
- 506,156 students took a NAEP assessment this year.
- There are over 32,481 educators in school/district roles in the Assessment Management System.
- The first widescale NAEP administration using school devices as the primary assessment mode was completed.
