This report presents results of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in writing at grades 8 and 12. In this new national writing assessment sample, 24,100 eighth-graders and 28,100 twelfth-graders engaged with writing tasks and composed their responses on computer. The assessment tasks reflected writing situations common to both academic and workplace settings and asked students to write for several purposes and communicate to different audiences. The results of the 2011 writing assessment offer a new opportunity to understand the ability of eighth- and twelfth-grade students to make effective choices in their writing and allow for insight into the role and impact of technology on writing education and performance. Twenty-four percent of students at both grades 8 and 12 performed at the "Proficient" level in writing in 2011. The NAEP "Proficient" level represents solid academic performance for each grade assessed. Students performing at this level have clearly demonstrated the ability to accomplish the communicative purpose of their writing. Fifty-four percent of eighth-graders and 52 percent of twelfth-graders performed at the "Basic" level in writing in 2011. The "Basic" level denotes partial mastery of the prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade. Three percent of eighth- and twelfth-graders in 2011 performed at the "Advanced" level. This level represents superior performance. (Contains 32 figures and 6 tables.)