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Public School Review - Established 2003

States With the Highest Reading/Language Arts Proficiency

The national average reading/language arts proficiency is 47% (2026). Reading/language arts proficiency of school are compared within their own state only.
Note that individual states determine criteria for 'proficiency' according to their own tests.
The state with highest reading/language arts proficiency is Maine, with an 84% average reading/language arts proficiency. The state with lowest reading/language arts proficiency is Oklahoma, with an 28% average reading/language arts proficiency.
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency Range: 28% 84% Avg. Reading/Language Arts Proficiency: 47%

States With the Highest Reading/Language Arts Proficiency (2026)

State
Average Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
School Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Rank: #11.
Maine
84%
Rank: #2-32-3.
Iowa
70%
Rank: #2-32-3.
Virginia
70%
Rank: #44.
Ohio
60%
Rank: #55.
Pennsylvania
56%
Rank: #66.
Idaho
55%
Rank: #7-87-8.
Washington
53%
Rank: #7-87-8.
Wyoming
53%
Rank: #9-119-11.
Florida
52%
Rank: #9-119-11.
South Carolina
52%
Rank: #9-119-11.
Hawaii
52%
Rank: #12-1612-16.
Minnesota
51%
Rank: #12-1612-16.
Texas
51%
Rank: #12-1612-16.
New Hampshire
51%
Rank: #12-1612-16.
South Dakota
51%
Rank: #12-1612-16.
Connecticut
51%
Rank: #1717.
North Carolina
50%
Rank: #18-1918-19.
New York
49%
Rank: #18-1918-19.
New Jersey
49%
Rank: #20-2220-22.
Alabama
47%
Rank: #20-2220-22.
Nebraska
47%
Rank: #20-2220-22.
California
47%
Rank: #23-2423-24.
Montana
46%
Rank: #23-2423-24.
Michigan
46%
Rank: #25-2825-28.
Maryland
45%
Rank: #25-2825-28.
Colorado
45%
Rank: #25-2825-28.
Kentucky
45%
Rank: #25-2825-28.
Massachusetts
45%
Rank: #29-3229-32.
Oregon
44%
Rank: #29-3229-32.
Vermont
44%
Rank: #29-3229-32.
North Dakota
44%
Rank: #29-3229-32.
Nevada
44%
Rank: #33-3533-35.
Missouri
43%
Rank: #33-3533-35.
Louisiana
43%
Rank: #33-3533-35.
Utah
43%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
Delaware
42%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
Mississippi
42%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
West Virginia
42%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
Indiana
42%
Rank: #4040.
Arizona
41%
Rank: #41-4241-42.
Arkansas
40%
Rank: #41-4241-42.
Georgia
40%
Rank: #4343.
Wisconsin
39%
Rank: #4444.
Tennessee
37%
Rank: #45-4645-46.
New Mexico
34%
Rank: #45-4645-46.
Rhode Island
34%
Rank: #4747.
Kansas
33%
Rank: #4848.
District Of Columbia
31%
Rank: #49-5049-50.
Alaska
30%
Rank: #49-5049-50.
Illinois
30%
Rank: #5151.
Oklahoma
28%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the national average public school reading/language arts proficiency?
The national average public school reading/language arts proficiency is 47% for 2026.
What are public schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in the United States?
The public schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in the United States include Brown Summit Middle School, Bergen County Academies and Whitney (Gretchen) High School.
What is the state with the highest average public school reading/language arts proficiency?
The state with the highest average public school reading/language arts proficiency is Maine.

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Did You Know?

The state with highest average public school reading/language arts proficiency is Maine, with 84%. The state with lowest average public school reading/language arts proficiency is Oklahoma, with 28%.