A "proficient score" refers to a level of achievement that shows a person has mastered a particular skill or subject. It means they have reached a high level of competence and can perform well in that area. Full definition
Nearly half of the state's fourth - graders are proficient on National Assessment of Educational Progress reading tests, and 55 percent of eighth - graders earn proficient scores on math tests — the highest rates in the country. (hechingerreport.org)
Thus, it's not necessarily the case that a school in which 80 percent of the students achieve proficiency in reading and math is «better» than a school in which 60 percent of students achieve proficient scores. (ascd.org)
All states must adopt the same lofty goal for tested achievement (100 percent of students earning proficient scores by 2014) and set explicit annual benchmarks for improvement. (wacharterschools.org)