The National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, released the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress math scores this morning (2 minutes ago).

North Carolina has made outstanding progress on the NAEP math assessment, but the nation is catching up to NC in 8th grade math.

Average math scale scores – 4th grade

1992: 213 (state) 219 (national) -6 (difference)
2003: 242 (state) 234 (national) +8 (difference)
2007: 242 (state) 239 (national) +3 (difference)
2009: 244 (state) 239 (national) +5 (difference)

Average math scale scores – 8th grade

1990: 250 (state) 262 (national) -12 (difference)
2003: 281 (state) 276 (national) +5 (difference)
2007: 284 (state) 280 (national) +4 (difference)
2009: 284 (state) 282 (national) +2 (difference)

Update:

The average score for students in North Carolina in 2009 (244) was not significantly different from their average score in 2007 (242) and was higher than their average score in 1992 (213).

The average score for students in North Carolina in 2009 (284) was not significantly different from their average score in 2007 (284) and was higher than their average score in 1990 (250).