Lexile and Quantile Grade Level Charts Quick Start Guide

When you open the tool, the Lexile or Quantile measures that are the norm for the 50th and 90th percentile at the end of year are shown for all grades. You can filter the list so only the grades you want to see are displayed.

1. Select the Grades list and select the grade you want to see. All other grades are hidden when you select a grade.
2. Select any other grades you want to see. You can click a selected grade to hide it.
3. When you have selected all of your grades, click anywhere on the page to close the Grades list and view your changes.
4. Click the Download PDF button to save a printable version of this information.

Norms are usually expressed as percentiles. In education, a percentile is a measure of where students are in relation to their peers. When you open the tool, the norms for the 50th and 90th percentile are displayed. You can adjust the percentiles to see the norms at different measurements.

1. In the Percentiles of Students Measured area, click on the first green dot and slide it to the left or the right.
2. Let go of the dot when you are on the percentile you want to view. You can view norms for the 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90th percentile.
3. Click on the second green dot, slide it to the left or the right, and let go when you are on the second percentile you want to view.
4. Click the Download PDF button to save a printable version of this information.

The national norms in the Grade Level Charts were developed using research studies that included over 3 million students across the United States and the Virgin Islands from 2010 - 2019. A norm provides a measure of how students at a given percentile typically perform. Norms are not a judgement of what is good, bad, or acceptable. They’re simply stating what is a typical performance at a given percentile.

A standard is a performance target set by a group or organization. A standard uses data to set goals and to determine when performance exceeds, meets, or misses expectations. In education, standards are typically set by states and each state has its own standards.

So, a student at the 50th percentile could be both at the midpoint of student national norms and “not meet grade-level performance standards” in their state.

For More Information:

View our research on Lexile text ranges by grade level. See examples of English and Spanish book titles at different text ranges on Lexile maps.