The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) states:

Only 9 out of 100 Black students performed at or above the NAEP proficient level in civics.
Only 13 out of 100 Black students performed at or above the NAEP proficient level in math.
Only 15 out of 100 Black students performed at or above the NAEP proficient level in reading.

 

The Condition of Education 2020 summary states:
Millions of Black parents expect public schools to help their children to be better. Millions of Black students depend on public education to pursue their happiness. We tried hard to find a significant improvement for Black students in the Condition of Education 2020. Yet, what the data demonstrate is disappointing and discouraging.

1. The poverty rate is still the highest for Black students. In 2018, nearly one third of Black students lived in poverty (32%)

2. A lack of internet access at home has become a barrier for Black students to learn. Among Black students without home internet access, 39% said that it was because internet was too expensive, suggesting that their families could not afford it. This percentage for Black students was much higher than that for white students.

3. A high percentage of Black students attend high-poverty schools. 45% of Black students attended high-poverty schools, compared with 8% of white students.

4. More Black students with disabilities receive services for emotional disturbances. Research shows that Black students may be disproportionally represented in educational programs for students meeting eligibility criteria for emotional disturbance. “Although special education services are designed to improve student outcomes, the provision of services may result in social stigma, removal from the general education setting, and inadequate learning opportunities”

5. The disproportion between Black students and Black teachers has not been improved. In 2017-18, only 7% of public school teachers and 11% of public school principals were Black. Average salaries for Black teachers were lower than that of their white colleagues

6. The achievement gap between Black and white students has not been closed.

7. School dropout rate keeps high among Black students. About 6 out 100 U.S.-born Black students dropped out of school.

8. Graduation rates and college enrollment rates remain low among Black students.

9. The number of Black students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is still low. In 2017-18,

• 13% of Black students obtained bachelor’s degree conferred in a STEM field.

• 7% of Black students obtained associate’s degrees conferred in a STEM field.

• 6% of Black students obtained master’s degrees conferred in a STEM field.

• 5% of Black students obtained doctor’s degrees conferred in a STEM field.

The Condition of Education is a congressionally mandated annual report from the National Center for Education Statistics.