Fast Facts

Science

Question:
How are American students performing in science?

Response:
The National Assessment of Educational Progress has assessed the science abilities of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 in both public and private schools since 1996; however, the 2009 assessment is based on a new framework, so these results cannot be compared to those from previous assessments, but instead will provide a baseline for measuring students' progress on future NAEP science assessments.

The 2009 assessment scores were based on a scale that ranged from 0 to 300. In 2009, White 4th-graders had a higher average science score (163) than did Black (127), Hispanic (131), Asian/Pacific Islander (160), and American Indian/Alaska Native (135) 4th-graders. The average science score was higher for male 4th-graders (151) than for female 4th-graders (149). The pattern of differences in average science scores by students' race/ethnicity at grade 8 was similar to the pattern at grade 4. The average science score also was higher for male 8th-graders (152) than for female 8th-graders (148). At grade 12, average scores for White (159) and Asian/Pacific Islander (164) students were higher than the scores for Black (125), Hispanic (134), and American Indian/Alaska Native (144) students. The average science score in 2009 for male 12th-graders (153) was higher than the score for female 12th-graders (147).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2012). Digest of Education Statistics, 2011 (NCES 2012-001), Chapter 2.

‡ Reporting standards not met (too few cases).

NOTE: Scale ranges from 0 to 300 for all three grades, but scores cannot be compared across grades. For example, the average score of 163 for White 4th-graders does not denote higher performance than the score of 159 for White 12th-graders. Includes students tested with accommodations (7 to 11 percent of all students, depending on grade level); excludes only those students with disabilities and English language learners who were unable to be tested even with accommodations (2 to 3 percent of all students). Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2012). The Digest of Education Statistics, 2011 (NCES 2012–001), Table 150.

Related Tables and Figures:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2012, Digest of Education Statistics 2011, Table 151. Average science scale scores of 4th- and 8th-grade public school students, by race/ethnicity and state: 2009
  
• 2012, Digest of Education Statistics 2011, Table 152. Average science scale scores of 12th-graders reporting various educational goals and attitudes toward science, and percentages of students reporting these goals and attitudes, by selected student characteristics: 2009
  
• 2011, The Condition of Education 2011: Science Performance
  
• 2010, The Condition of Education 2010: International Science Content
  
• 2009, The Condition of Education 2009: International Trends in Science Performance
  

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2012, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): This site provides access to publications and data on the reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, and arts achievement of U.S. students.
  
• 2011, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS): ECLS includes three longitudinal studies that examine child development, school readiness, and early school experiences.
  
• 2011, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS): This site provides reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. 4th-and 8th-grade students compared to that of students in other countries.