Fourth Grade:

• The available data suggest that, as in mathematics, though there was no measurable difference detected in the average science performance of U.S. fourth-graders between 1995 and 2003 (table 10), the standing of U.S. fourth-graders in science relative to their peers in 14 other countries appears lower in 2003 than in 1995 (table 12 and table C13 in appendix C). In 1995, fourth-graders in one country, Japan, outperformed U.S. fourth-graders in science, while U.S. fourth-graders outperformed students in 13 countries. In 2003, U.S. fourth-graders were outperformed by students in two countries, on average, had average scores that were not measurably different from those of fourth-graders in four other countries, and outperformed students in eight countries.

Eighth Grade:

• As was observed for mathematics, the available data show that, not only did U.S. eighth-graders show significant improvement in science between 1995 and 2003 (table 11), but the relative standing of U.S. students also improved in science relative to students in the 21 other countries with data from 1995 and 2003 (table 13 and table C15 in appendix C). In 1995, U.S. eighth-graders were outperformed in science by eighth-graders in nine of these countries, and outperformed eighth-graders in five of these countries. In 2003, U.S. eighth-graders were outperformed by students in 5 of these countries, and outperformed students in 11 of these countries.