Median means the middle value in a group of numbers arranged in order. If you line up five test scores from lowest to highest (say, 65, 72, 80, 88, 95), the median is 80, the number right in the middle. With an even number of values, the median is halfway between the two middle numbers.

The median helps you understand what's typical in a set of numbers, especially when some values are unusually high or low. Imagine your class had reading times of 5, 6, 6, 7, and 45 minutes. The average would be 14 minutes, which doesn't represent anyone well. But the median of 6 minutes gives you a much better sense of what's normal for the group. That outlier of 45 minutes doesn't throw off the median the way it distorts the average.

You'll also hear median used for the strip in the middle of a divided highway. That's because it sits in the middle, separating traffic going in opposite directions. Whether you're talking about numbers or roads, median always points to what's in the middle.