Reading Lexile Levels by Grade Chart

Lexile measures are a widely used metric to assess a student’s reading ability and the difficulty of a text. Developed by MetaMetrics, the Lexile Framework assigns a numerical value (e.g., 500L) to both readers and books, making it easier to find the right match.

How Lexile Measures Work

A Lexile measure consists of two components:

Reader Lexile Score – Determined through standardized reading assessments.
Text Lexile Measure – Analyzes sentence length and word frequency to determine difficulty.

The goal is to find books within a student’s Lexile range (typically 100L below to 50L above their score) to ensure they are challenged without frustration.

Lexile Reading Levels by Grade Chart

Below is a general breakdown of Lexile reading levels by grade. Keep in mind that these ranges are approximate, as students progress at different rates.

Lexile Ranges for Elementary School (Grades K-5)

Kindergarten

Typical Lexile Range: BR (Beginning Reader) to 230L
Common Books: Picture books, simple stories with repetitive text

1st Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 190L to 530L
Common Books: Early readers like Frog and Toad (400L)

2nd Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 420L to 650L
Common Books: Nate the Great (330L), Junie B. Jones (350L-550L)

3rd Grade

Typical 3rd grade reading level Range: 520L to 820L
Common Books: Magic Tree House (500L-600L), Charlotte’s Web (680L)

4th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 740L to 940L
Common Books: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (880L), Because of Winn-Dixie (610L)

5th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 830L to 1010L
Common Books: Hatchet (1020L), Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief (740L)

Lexile Ranges for Middle School (Grades 6-8)

6th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 925L to 1070L
Common Books: The Giver (760L), The Hobbit (1000L)

7th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 970L to 1120L
Common Books: The Hunger Games (810L), To Kill a Mockingbird (870L)

8th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 1010L to 1185L
Common Books: Fahrenheit 451 (890L), Lord of the Flies (770L)

Lexile Ranges for High School (Grades 9-12)

9th & 10th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 1050L to 1260L
Common Books: 1984 (1090L), Pride and Prejudice (1100L)

11th & 12th Grade

Typical Lexile Range: 1185L to 1385L
Common Books: The Great Gatsby (1070L), Brave New World (870L)

Why Lexile Levels Matter

Using Lexile measures helps educators and parents:

Match students with appropriate books to encourage reading growth.
Track progress over time with measurable data.
Identify struggling readers who may need additional support.

Limitations of Lexile Measures

While Lexile levels are helpful, they don’t account for:

Content maturity – A book may have a low Lexile but complex themes.
Interest level – A student may read above their level if highly engaged.

How to Find a Book’s Lexile Level

You can check a book’s Lexile measure using:

Lexile® Find a Book Tool (on the Lexile website)
Scholastic Book Wizard
Library or school databases

Tips for Using Lexile Levels Effectively

Combine Lexile with interest – Let students choose books they enjoy within their range.
Encourage gradual challenges – Slowly introduce higher Lexile books.
Use Lexile growth reports – Monitor progress throughout the school year.

Final Thoughts

The Lexile reading levels by grade chart serves as a helpful guide, but it’s important to balance quantitative data with a student’s interests and comprehension. By using Lexile measures wisely, parents and teachers can foster a love of reading while supporting literacy development.