Report: Nation's Report Card: Science 2005
Report: Nation's Report
Card: Science 2005
Authors: National Assessment of Educational Progress
Date: 2005
US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
The results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005
science assessment have been released. In addition to national results for
grades 4, 8, and 12, fourth- and eighth-grade results are reported for 44
participating states and the Department of Defense schools. Assessment results
are described in terms of students' average science score on a 0-300 scale
and in terms of the percentage of students attaining each of three achievement
levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. National scores at selected percentiles
on the scale (indicating the percentage of students whose scores fell at or
below a particular point) are also discussed, as are scores for three fields
of science. The report also provides results for groups of students defined
by various background characteristics (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, and students'
eligibility for free/reduced-price school lunch). Comparisons are made to
results from previous years in which the assessment was administered. In addition
to the 2005 results, national results are reported from the 1996 and 2000
assessments.
The national results show an increase in the average science score since
1996 at grade 4, no significant change at grade 8, and a decline at grade
12. Results for participating states and other jurisdictions from the 2000
assessment at grade 4 and from the 1996 and 2000 assessments at grade 8 are
also reported. Of the 37 states and jurisdictions that participated in both
the 2000 and 2005 fourth-grade science assessments, nine showed gains in average
scores and none showed declines. Of the 37 states and jurisdictions that participated
in the 2000 and 2005 eighth-grade assessments, 11 showed gains and 4 showed
declines.
