Reading data and dyslexia are related, but they are not the same thing. National assessments measure reading performance. Federal special-education data tracks service categories, including specific learning disabilities. This page brings those sources together without treating either one as a diagnosis.
Key statistics
Current U.S. reading and learning-disability data
31%
of fourth-grade students performed at or above NAEP Proficient in reading in 2024.
Source: 2024 NAEP Reading Assessment5 points
was the decline in the national fourth-grade average reading score from 2019 to 2024.
Source: 2024 NAEP Reading Assessment33%
of eighth-grade students scored below NAEP Basic in reading in 2024, the highest share reported in the assessment’s history.
Source: 2024 NAEP Reading Assessment5 points
was the decline in the national eighth-grade average reading score from 2019 to 2024.
Source: 2024 NAEP Reading Assessment7.5 million
children and youth ages 3 to 21 received special education and related services under IDEA in the 2022-23 school year.
Source: NCES, Students With Disabilities32%
of students receiving special education and related services were identified in the specific learning disabilities category in 2022-23.
Source: NCES, Students With DisabilitiesHow to read the data
What these numbers can, and cannot, tell us
NAEP is a national snapshot. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the Nation’s Report Card, tests representative samples of students. Its achievement levels are useful for comparing broad national trends, but they are not the same as a child’s report card or a local school’s grade-level standard.
Specific learning disabilities is a service category. It can include reading and language-based learning needs, but it does not equal the number of people with dyslexia. A family concerned about dyslexia should consider the learner’s full history and seek guidance from qualified professionals.
Sources and methodology
Where these statistics come from
Every statistic on this page comes from a named public education source. Figures are shown as published by the source, and this page was last updated on September 8, 2026.
- National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2024 Reading Assessment . National reading results for grades 4 and 8, released in 2025.
- National Center for Education Statistics, Students With Disabilities . Federal special-education data for the 2022-23 school year.
Cite this page
Reading & Spelling SOS. “Reading & Dyslexia Statistics.” Updated September 8, 2026. https://readingandspellingsos.com/reading-dyslexia-statistics
For families
Looking for the right next step?
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