Reading facts
Children's Reading Statistics
Eight current facts about children, books, and reading, collected for parents, writers, teachers, and anyone who wants a reliable place to begin.
Updated August 22, 2026
Why it matters
A book can be a small, repeatable invitation.
National assessment results show a serious reading challenge at every school age. The family reading data points to a practical response too: let children choose books that speak to them, and keep those books within reach. These figures do not replace the experience of reading together, but they give that simple habit a clearer context.
The statistics
Eight facts worth sharing
31%
of fourth-graders reached NAEP Proficient in reading
In 2024, 31% of U.S. fourth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level, down 2 percentage points from 2022.
Source: NAEP Reading Assessment, 202440%
of fourth-graders scored below NAEP Basic in reading
In 2024, 40% of fourth-grade students performed below the NAEP Basic level, a larger share than in 2022.
Source: NAEP Reading Assessment, 202430%
of eighth-graders reached NAEP Proficient in reading
Thirty percent of U.S. eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in 2024.
Source: NAEP Reading Assessment, 202435%
of twelfth-graders reached NAEP Proficient in reading
In 2024, 35% of U.S. twelfth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level, 2 points below 2019.
Source: NAEP Reading Assessment, 202493%
of children say their favorite books are the ones they picked
Choice matters. In Scholastic's 2022 family reading survey, 93% of children said their favorite books are the books they choose for themselves.
Source: Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 202292%
say they are more likely to finish a book they picked
The same survey found that 92% of children said they are more likely to finish reading a book they selected themselves.
Source: Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 202261%
of children said they enjoy summer reading
Enjoyment was higher among children ages 6 to 11 than among ages 12 to 17, 68% compared with 55%.
Source: Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 202241%
get most of their fun-reading books from school
Forty-one percent of children said school is where they get most of the books they read for fun, making summer access especially important.
Source: Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 2022A note on the numbers
NAEP achievement levels describe performance on the NAEP assessment. They are not the same as a state's definition of grade-level proficiency, and the National Center for Education Statistics says they should be interpreted with care.
Method and sources
How this page is kept useful
This page uses only published primary research and links every statistic directly to its source. The reading achievement figures come from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress. The family reading figures come from Scholastic's eighth Kids & Family Reading Report, based on its 2022 survey with Fluent Research.
- National Assessment of Educational Progress, Grade 4 Reading, 2024
- National Assessment of Educational Progress, Grade 8 Reading, 2024
- National Assessment of Educational Progress, Grade 12 Reading, 2024
- Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 8th Edition, 2022 survey
Last reviewed: August 22, 2026. This page will be refreshed when a key source publishes newer data.
Cite this page
A stable reference for your work
Suggested citation: Milana Nelson. “Children's Reading Statistics: 8 Facts for Families, Writers, and Educators.” Updated August 22, 2026. Milana Nelson.