Jack BuckleyCommissionerNational Center for Education Statistics

May 10, 2012

Administered January–March 2011

National sample• 122,000 eighth-graders

Results available for• Nation• 50 states, the District of Columbia, and

the Department of Defense school system

Performance reported as• Average scale scores (0–300 scale)• Achievement levels (Basic, Proficient, Advanced)

Results compared to 20092

Science Content Areas

30% Physical science

30% Life science

40% Earth and space sciences

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Scores higher than in 2009

Eighth-graders score 2 points higher than in 2009

Scores higher for all but the 90th percentile

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.

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Higher percentages of students perform at or above Basic and Proficient in 2011

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.

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White and Asian students score higher than other racial/ethnic groups

# Rounds to zero. NOTE: Black includes African American and Hispanic includes Latino. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

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White – Black score gap narrows from 2009

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* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.NOTE: Black includes African American, and Hispanic includes Latino. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin. Score gaps are calculated based on differences between unrounded average scores.

White – Hispanic score gap narrows from 2009Racial/ethnic gaps narrow from 2009

Male students score 5 points higher than female students in 2011

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* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.

Students across income levels score higher than in 2009

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* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because results are not shown for the “Information not available” category.

Public school students score higher than in 2009 but private – public gap persists

10* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2011.NOTE: Private schools include Catholic, other religious, and nonsectarian private schools. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Students in 16 states score higher in 2011 than in 2009

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1 Department of Defense Education Activity (overseas and domestic schools).

Students in 29 states and jurisdictions score higher than the nation in 2011

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1 Department of Defense Education Activity (overseas and domestic schools).

Students doing hands-on projects in class more frequently score higher

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NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Students who report doing science-related activities that are not for schoolwork score higher

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

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Earth and space sciences question

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72% of eighth-graders were able to predict a geological consequence from the collision of two tectonic plates

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Physical science question

54% of eighth-graders were able to identify what atoms combine to make up a molecule of water

# Rounds to zero.NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

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Life science question

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Life science question

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15% of eighth-graders demonstrated a “Complete” understanding of the behavior of a mosquito larva and pupa

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because the percentage of responses rated as “Off-task” is not shown. Off-task responses are those that do not provide any information related to the assessment task.

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