Question:
What are the recent trends in advanced mathematics and science coursetaking among U.S. high school students?
Response:
The percentages of high school graduates who took mathematics courses in geometry, algebra II/trigonometry, analysis/precalculus, statistics/probability, and calculus while in high school were higher in 2009 than in 1990. Similarly, the percentages of high school graduates who took science courses in biology, chemistry, physics, both biology and chemistry, or in all three of these science courses while in high school were higher in 2009 than in 1990. For example, while in high school, 16 percent of 2009 graduates versus 7 percent of 1990 graduates took calculus, and 30 percent of 2009 graduates took biology, chemistry, and physics in high school versus 19 percent of 1990 graduates. In contrast, 69 percent of 2009 graduates took algebra I in high school versus 77 percent of 1990 graduates. Looking at more recent changes, the percentages of graduates who took mathematics and science courses were higher in 2009 than in 2005 for all courses except algebra I and the combination of biology, chemistry, and physics, for which no measurable differences were found.
Across subgroups, the percentages of high school graduates who had taken calculus and biology, chemistry, and physics were generally higher in 2009 than in 1990. For example, 9 percent of Hispanic 2009 high school graduates had taken calculus versus 4 percent of 1990 graduates. Also, 28 percent of female 2009 graduates had taken biology, chemistry, and physics versus 16 percent of 1990 graduates. Comparing 2009 with 2005, the percentages of graduates who had taken these courses were higher for some subgroups. For instance, 12 percent of 2009 graduates with disabilities had taken biology, chemistry, and physics versus 7 percent of 2005 graduates.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2012). The Condition of Education 2012 (NCES 2012-045), Indicator 31.
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