America's Smartest Kids

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 12%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 17%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 13%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 5%

AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 13%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 12%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

Toby Talbot / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 14%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 10%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 5%

Cody Glenn, The Daily Journal / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---new-hampshire_fvrwet

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 10%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 11%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 4%

Cheryl Senter / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 11%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 13%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---connecticut_melicq

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 10%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 11%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 5%

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---pennsylvania_psfavd

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 10%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 10%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

Matt Rourke / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 12%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 11%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 4%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---washington_xzm7tn

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 11%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 4%

Ted S. Warren / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

Scott Heckel, The Repository / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---colorado_dbljzi

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 10%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 11%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---virginia_f1jtl0

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Michaele White / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 10%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Nikki Carlson, Havre Daily News / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---maine_bmadmb

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---wisconsin_qpmdo3

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Joseph W. Jackson III / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---kansas_rqu9et

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---illinois_vzrx0z

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---missouri_odxxrt

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---new-york_jhl1lt

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

Chris Hondros / Getty Images

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---oregon_jnlcix

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

Don Ryan / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Jay Pickthorn / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Larry W. Smith / Getty Images

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

Sarah Kolberg, Grand Forks Herald / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 6
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Alan Murray / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---north-carolina_a6nm28

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 9%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 7%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

Chris Hondros, Newsmakers / Getty Images

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 8%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5% Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---michigan_s04i4m

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Andy Carpenean / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 8%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Andrew Nenque / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---rhode-island_ce2lhn

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 9%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Victoria Arocho / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 7%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Mary Ann Chastain / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---georgia_lezzwz

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 6%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 3%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---arkansas_wwfiom

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 2%

Joe Murphy / Getty Images

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 2%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 6%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---nevada_mmyptq

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 5%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

Steve Marcus, The Las Vegas Sun / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/21/america-s-smartest-kids/smartest-kids---oklahoma_cc3kuk

Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

Sue Ogrocki / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 2%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 4%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 2%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

Jim Thompson, Albuquerque Journal / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 2%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 2%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 4%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

Lori Wolfe / AP Photo

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Advanced level fourth graders, Math: 3%
Advanced level eighth graders, Math: 2%
Advanced level fourth graders, Reading: 5%
Advanced level eighth graders, Reading: 1%

America's Smartest Kids

Every other year, 4th and 8th graders are tested in reading and math, and some states produce far more top achievers than others. The Daily Beast ranks which states are acing, and which are failing.