Youth Indicators 1996 / Indicator 36

Indicator 36. Science Proficiency

Science proficiency, by age and by selected characteristics of students: 1977, 1990, and 1992

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         Selected                 9-year-olds         13-year-olds       17-year-olds\1\
      characteristics       -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
        of students          1977   1990   1992   1977   1990   1992   1977   1990   1992
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    All students ...........  220    229    230    247    255    258    290    290    294

Sex
  Male .....................  222    230    235    251    259    260    297    296    299
  Female ...................  218    227    226    244    252    256    282    285    289

Race/ethnicity
  White, non-Hispanic ......  230    238    239    256    264    267    298    301    304
  Black, non-Hispanic ......  175    196    200    208    226    224    240    253    256
  Hispanic .................  192    206    205    213    232    238    262    262    270

Region
  Northeast ................  224    231    234    255    257    257    296    293    300
  Southeast ................  205    220    223    235    251    254    276    284    283
  Central ..................  225    234    238    254    260    263    294    300    304
  West .....................  221    230    227    243    253    258    287    286    290

Parental education (as reported by students)\2\
  Not high school graduate .  199    210    217    224    233    234    265    261    262
  Graduated high school ....  223    226    222    245    247    246    284    276    280
  Some college .............  237    238    237    260    263    266    296    297    296
  Graduated college ........  232    236    239    266    268    269    309    306    308

Type of school
  Public ...................  218    228    229    245    254    257    288    289    292
  Private ..................  235    237    240    268    269    265    308    308    312
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/1/ Excludes persons not enrolled in school.

/2/ One quarter to one third of the 9-year-olds did not know their parents' education level.

NOTE: The NAEP scores range from 0 to 500, but have been evaluated at certain performance levels. A score of 300 implies the ability to evaluate the appropriateness of the design of an experiment and the skill to apply scientific knowledge in interpreting information from text and graphs. These students also exhibit a growing understanding of principles from the physical sciences. Performers at the 250 level can interpret data from simple tables and make inferences about the outcomes of experimental procedures. They exhibit knowledge and understanding of the life sciences, and also demonstrate some knowledge of basic information from the physical sciences. Performers at the 200 level are developing some understanding of simple scientific principles, particularly in the life sciences. Performers at the 150 level know some general scientific facts of the kind that can be learned from everyday experiences.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP 1992 Trends in Academic Progress.

Indicator chart and text.

[Indicator 35. Mathematics Proficiency] [Indicator 37. International Achievement Comparison]