New Study Links Pearson Assessment to Improved Math Proficiency
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Student gains were equal to jumping from the 50th to nearly 60th percentile on the year-end summative math tests
Hoboken, N.J. -- Pearson today announced the results of an efficacy study evaluating the positive impact of its Navvy formative assessment system on math performance in Arizona public schools. Despite math’s essential role in preparing students for future academic and career success, persistent gaps in U.S. math achievement remain a pressing concern. Recent NAEP and TIMSS data show that math achievement among fourth and eighth graders has declined or stagnated in recent years, with the lowest-performing students often experiencing the steepest drops.
With Pearson's Navvy, students showed marked improvement in end-of-year math proficiency, an equivalent of jumping from the 50th proficiency percentile to nearly the 60th, representing an improvement index of 9.7.
Read the study here.
Navvy, part of the signature Pearson Assessment for Learning Suite, is a digital formative assessment system developed to help educators measure student understanding of grade-level standards and provide targeted learning support throughout the school year.
The study, conducted during the 2024–2025 academic year, included more than 9,000 students in grades 4 through 8 across Arizona. The research found a clear relationship between engagement with Navvy and improved math outcomes:
- Students became "Proficient": Students who completed formative assessment activities via Navvy for learning connected to state standards, and for at least two-thirds of these standards, were twice as likely to move from "Not Proficient" to "Proficient" on the 2024-2025 Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) end-of-year summative assessment compared to like-students who did not engage with Navvy.
- Greater Navvy use = greater gains: The more students engaged with Navvy, the higher their learning gains were on the AASA.
- Modest Navvy use still spurred improvement: Even students who were modestly engaged with Navvy found statistically significant improvements in their AASA Math scores.
The study was carefully designed to follow the rigorous standards set by U.S Dept. Of Education’s What Works Clearninghouse guidelines for quasi-experimental research, and the findings were independently validated by HumRRO.
Trent Workman, Managing Director for Pearson K-12 School Assessment in the U.S. said, “Every student deserves to feel confident in math, and when we help students build these skills, we’re not just preparing them for academics, we’re opening doors to future careers and life choices. It’s inspiring to see our assessments making a difference in classrooms and in students’ lives.”
The full efficacy report is available here.
About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c. 18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's lifelong learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at plc.pearson.com.
Media Contact:
Allison Bazin
allison.bazin@pearson.com