Norm-referenced evaluation of student academic achievement involves comparing which of the following?

Norm-referenced evaluation is focused on comparing the performance of a student to that of their peers. This type of assessment allows educators to understand how an individual student performs relative to a group, typically a representative sample of students at the same grade level or in the same subject area. By assessing where a student stands in relation to their classmates, teachers can identify whether that student is performing above, below, or at the same level as their peers.

This method is particularly useful in differentiating between students who are excelling and those who may need additional support, thus informing instructional strategies and interventions. Norm-referenced assessments are designed to show how a student's performance stacks up against that of other students instead of providing an absolute measure of achievement.

The other choices do not align with the concept of norm-referenced evaluation. For instance, comparing a student to their previous performance reflects a criterion-referenced approach, which focuses on individual progress rather than relative standing. Meanwhile, comparing all students to a standardized benchmark relates to criterion references or standards-based evaluation, and concentrating only on top-performing students excludes the broader perspective necessary for norm-referenced assessments.