The Fact
In 2022 NAEP reading results for public-school students, fourth-grade boys averaged 213 while girls averaged 219. Eighth-grade boys averaged 255 while girls averaged 263.
What This Means
The male education gap is visible before college. Boys are already behind girls in reading by elementary school and the gap remains in eighth grade, which means the later college gap does not suddenly appear at age 18.
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP 2022, Digest Table 221.32a.