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Digest of Education Statistics: 2016
Digest of Education Statistics: 2016

NCES 2017-094
February 2018


Table 224.74f. Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) technology and engineering literacy (TEL) scale score and percentage distribution of 8th-graders, by level of confidence in ability to perform various technology- and engineering-related tasks and selected student and school characteristics: 2014
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Selected student or school characteristic Student’s confidence in ability to perform task
Describe how inventions change society Take something apart to fix it or see how it works Organize information into chart, graph, or spreadsheet Compare products using the Internet
I definite-ly can’t I probably can’t Maybe I probably can I definite-ly can I definite-ly can’t I probably can’t Maybe I probably can I definite-ly can I definite-ly can’t I probably can’t Maybe I probably can I definite-ly can I definite-ly can’t I probably can’t Maybe I probably can I definite-ly can
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
  Average TEL scale score1
All students 121 (1.1) 135 (0.9) 143 (0.6) 157 (0.7) 163 (0.8) 128 (1.6) 146 (1.0) 149 (0.8) 155 (0.6) 154 (0.8) 114 (1.8) 125 (1.1) 135 (0.7) 152 (0.6) 162 (0.7) 116 (1.6) 126 (1.3) 135 (0.8) 150 (0.6) 161 (0.7)
Sex                                                                                
Male 116 (2.2) 131 (1.2) 142 (0.7) 155 (0.9) 163 (0.9) 120 (2.4) 141 (1.6) 145 (1.0) 153 (0.8) 154 (0.8) 111 (2.0) 123 (1.7) 134 (0.9) 152 (0.8) 163 (0.9) 113 (2.2) 123 (1.9) 132 (1.1) 148 (0.8) 161 (0.9)
Female 125 (1.4) 138 (1.2) 145 (0.8) 158 (0.8) 164 (1.0) 133 (1.7) 149 (1.3) 151 (0.9) 156 (0.7) 154 (1.0) 119 (3.0) 128 (1.5) 137 (1.0) 152 (0.7) 162 (0.7) 121 (2.5) 128 (1.6) 137 (0.9) 152 (0.8) 161 (0.8)
                                                                                 
Race/ethnicity                                                                                
White 129 (1.9) 146 (1.4) 153 (0.8) 165 (0.9) 172 (0.8) 140 (2.2) 157 (1.3) 160 (1.1) 164 (0.9) 162 (1.0) 123 (2.8) 135 (1.7) 145 (1.1) 161 (0.9) 171 (0.7) 126 (2.6) 136 (2.2) 144 (1.3) 159 (0.9) 169 (0.8)
Black 107 (2.2) 116 (2.2) 124 (1.5) 134 (1.5) 140 (1.2) 111 (3.5) 127 (1.7) 126 (1.3) 133 (1.3) 134 (1.3) 103 (3.0) 111 (2.4) 118 (1.4) 131 (1.5) 140 (1.2) 103 (3.2) 110 (2.4) 118 (1.4) 129 (1.4) 138 (1.2)
Hispanic 117 (1.8) 126 (1.3) 133 (0.8) 145 (1.0) 153 (1.1) 121 (2.1) 135 (1.6) 136 (1.0) 142 (1.0) 144 (1.2) 110 (2.7) 120 (1.8) 129 (1.0) 142 (0.9) 151 (0.8) 111 (2.5) 119 (2.4) 128 (0.9) 139 (0.9) 151 (1.0)
Asian (†) 139 (4.6) 151 (2.9) 167 (2.0) 172 (2.7) (†) 156 (3.8) 158 (2.6) 164 (2.4) 163 (2.6) (†) (†) 141 (2.7) 160 (2.4) 172 (1.5) (†) (†) 139 (3.4) 159 (2.1) 171 (1.8)
Pacific Islander (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
American Indian/Alaska Native (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
Two or more races (†) (†) 145 (4.1) 161 (3.8) 166 (3.5) (†) (†) 150 (4.7) 163 (4.5) 156 (3.0) (†) (†) 137 (4.3) 153 (3.5) 166 (3.0) (†) (†) 145 (5.7) 150 (3.1) 162 (2.7)
                                                                                 
English language learner
      (ELL) status
                                                                               
ELL 97 (3.0) 102 (2.7) 109 (1.9) 114 (2.3) 120 (3.2) 97 (3.7) 107 (4.2) 109 (2.0) 111 (2.0) 115 (2.3) 95 (3.7) 93 (3.0) 107 (2.0) 114 (1.6) 121 (2.1) (†) 96 (3.7) 102 (2.1) 113 (2.1) 120 (1.9)
Non-ELL 123 (1.1) 138 (0.9) 146 (0.6) 158 (0.7) 164 (0.8) 131 (1.7) 149 (1.0) 151 (0.8) 157 (0.7) 155 (0.8) 117 (1.8) 129 (1.2) 138 (0.7) 154 (0.7) 163 (0.7) 119 (1.6) 129 (1.3) 138 (0.9) 152 (0.6) 162 (0.8)
                                                                                 
Disability status2                                                                                
Identified as student
      with disability (SD)
99 (1.9) 108 (2.4) 113 (1.6) 127 (2.1) 134 (2.1) 100 (2.3) 111 (2.9) 112 (1.6) 124 (1.8) 127 (1.5) 93 (2.4) 99 (1.8) 109 (1.6) 127 (2.0) 136 (1.9) 93 (2.5) 102 (2.3) 108 (1.8) 122 (1.6) 134 (2.1)
Not identified as SD 130 (1.2) 139 (1.0) 148 (0.6) 159 (0.6) 166 (0.8) 138 (1.5) 151 (1.0) 153 (0.7) 158 (0.6) 157 (0.8) 127 (1.9) 134 (1.2) 141 (0.7) 155 (0.6) 164 (0.7) 129 (2.1) 133 (1.5) 141 (0.7) 153 (0.6) 163 (0.7)
                                                                                 
Highest education level of either
      parent3
                                                                               
Did not finish high school 118 (4.2) 122 (2.5) 130 (1.0) 141 (1.7) 145 (1.7) 118 (4.6) 131 (2.0) 130 (1.5) 136 (1.4) 137 (1.9) 118 (5.8) 119 (2.4) 125 (1.6) 138 (1.7) 142 (1.7) (†) 122 (2.8) 125 (1.8) 134 (1.7) 143 (1.7)
Graduated high school 116 (2.5) 129 (1.7) 135 (1.0) 143 (1.3) 149 (2.1) 120 (2.4) 136 (1.9) 134 (1.6) 143 (1.3) 141 (1.3) 108 (3.5) 120 (2.5) 128 (1.3) 141 (1.5) 150 (1.3) 112 (3.2) 123 (2.3) 126 (1.4) 140 (1.4) 148 (1.2)
Some education after high school 132 (4.0) 140 (2.5) 147 (1.0) 156 (0.9) 162 (1.3) 138 (3.0) 150 (2.5) 152 (1.2) 153 (1.1) 155 (1.5) (†) 131 (2.7) 140 (1.3) 153 (1.1) 161 (1.1) (†) 127 (3.4) 140 (1.5) 151 (1.2) 160 (1.1)
Graduated college 126 (1.8) 144 (1.4) 152 (0.8) 164 (0.9) 169 (0.9) 137 (2.4) 155 (1.2) 159 (1.0) 164 (0.9) 161 (0.8) 121 (2.8) 134 (2.0) 144 (1.0) 160 (0.7) 169 (0.8) 124 (2.8) 132 (2.9) 144 (1.2) 158 (0.7) 168 (0.8)
                                                                                 
Percent of students in school
      eligible for free or reduced-
      price lunch
                                                                               
0 to 25 percent eligible 137 (4.1) 151 (2.1) 159 (1.4) 171 (1.5) 177 (1.2) 151 (3.2) 163 (1.8) 167 (1.5) 170 (1.6) 169 (1.5) (†) 145 (3.6) 150 (1.8) 168 (1.2) 176 (1.2) (†) 142 (2.8) 151 (2.1) 165 (1.4) 175 (1.1)
26 to 50 percent eligible 131 (2.4) 142 (1.5) 148 (1.2) 161 (1.4) 166 (1.2) 137 (2.7) 152 (1.7) 154 (1.7) 160 (1.2) 157 (1.1) 119 (3.4) 131 (2.6) 142 (1.2) 156 (1.2) 165 (1.2) 124 (4.2) 133 (2.4) 142 (1.4) 156 (1.3) 164 (1.1)
51 to 75 percent eligible 116 (1.8) 130 (1.7) 138 (1.2) 150 (1.2) 155 (1.3) 118 (2.1) 139 (1.6) 142 (1.4) 147 (1.0) 148 (1.1) 108 (3.4) 123 (1.9) 131 (1.7) 147 (1.2) 155 (1.0) 114 (3.4) 120 (2.5) 129 (1.7) 144 (1.2) 154 (1.1)
76 to 100 percent eligible 111 (2.0) 121 (1.9) 129 (1.1) 138 (1.4) 145 (1.4) 115 (2.4) 129 (1.9) 128 (1.3) 137 (1.5) 137 (1.3) 111 (3.0) 114 (2.0) 123 (1.4) 136 (1.1) 144 (1.5) 104 (3.1) 114 (2.2) 122 (1.2) 134 (1.3) 143 (1.3)
                                                                                 
School control                                                                                
Public 120 (1.2) 134 (0.9) 142 (0.6) 156 (0.7) 162 (0.8) 128 (1.7) 145 (1.1) 147 (0.8) 153 (0.7) 153 (0.7) 114 (1.8) 125 (1.1) 134 (0.7) 151 (0.7) 161 (0.7) 116 (1.6) 125 (1.4) 134 (0.8) 149 (0.7) 160 (0.8)
Private (†) 148 (2.1) 156 (1.7) 166 (1.8) 175 (1.8) 143 (4.3) 161 (2.6) 161 (1.9) 168 (1.6) 166 (2.4) (†) 142 (5.2) 148 (2.2) 162 (1.6) 172 (1.6) (†) 141 (4.1) 146 (2.5) 161 (1.7) 172 (1.6)
                                                                                 
School locale                                                                                
City 116 (1.7) 127 (1.5) 139 (1.0) 151 (1.2) 160 (1.1) 122 (2.2) 143 (1.9) 142 (1.4) 150 (1.0) 149 (1.2) 110 (2.3) 120 (2.0) 129 (1.0) 148 (1.1) 158 (1.0) 111 (2.5) 121 (1.9) 130 (1.2) 144 (1.1) 157 (1.0)
Suburb 122 (2.0) 138 (1.4) 146 (1.3) 161 (1.3) 167 (1.0) 131 (2.9) 147 (1.4) 154 (1.4) 158 (1.0) 159 (1.2) 117 (3.1) 128 (1.8) 138 (1.3) 155 (1.2) 166 (1.0) 120 (2.5) 129 (3.0) 137 (1.4) 152 (1.0) 165 (1.0)
Town 123 (4.5) 137 (3.8) 144 (2.0) 155 (2.1) 160 (2.1) 129 (5.9) 148 (3.4) 146 (3.0) 153 (1.7) 153 (2.4) (†) 128 (5.4) 134 (2.8) 151 (2.1) 161 (2.1) (†) 125 (4.8) 136 (2.1) 148 (1.7) 160 (2.0)
Rural 124 (2.5) 138 (1.8) 145 (1.1) 158 (1.3) 163 (1.8) 131 (3.1) 148 (2.3) 150 (1.6) 156 (1.7) 154 (1.5) 115 (4.5) 127 (2.7) 138 (1.4) 154 (1.4) 162 (1.7) 116 (2.9) 129 (3.0) 137 (1.7) 153 (1.5) 161 (1.6)
  Percentage distribution of students
All students 5 (0.2) 11 (0.2) 28 (0.4) 30 (0.4) 26 (0.4) 5 (0.2) 10 (0.2) 26 (0.3) 28 (0.3) 30 (0.3) 3 (0.1) 6 (0.2) 19 (0.3) 32 (0.3) 41 (0.6) 2 (0.2) 5 (0.1) 18 (0.3) 28 (0.3) 47 (0.4)
Sex                                                                                
Male 4 (0.3) 10 (0.4) 29 (0.6) 30 (0.5) 27 (0.6) 4 (0.2) 7 (0.3) 22 (0.4) 29 (0.5) 38 (0.4) 3 (0.2) 6 (0.3) 21 (0.4) 32 (0.6) 37 (0.7) 3 (0.2) 5 (0.2) 17 (0.3) 28 (0.4) 47 (0.6)
Female 5 (0.2) 12 (0.4) 28 (0.5) 29 (0.5) 26 (0.5) 7 (0.3) 13 (0.3) 30 (0.5) 28 (0.5) 22 (0.5) 2 (0.2) 5 (0.2) 17 (0.4) 31 (0.5) 44 (0.7) 2 (0.2) 5 (0.3) 18 (0.4) 28 (0.5) 47 (0.6)
                                                                                 
Race/ethnicity                                                                                
White 4 (0.3) 9 (0.4) 27 (0.6) 31 (0.5) 28 (0.7) 4 (0.3) 9 (0.3) 25 (0.5) 29 (0.5) 32 (0.4) 2 (0.2) 4 (0.3) 17 (0.4) 33 (0.6) 44 (0.9) 2 (0.2) 4 (0.2) 15 (0.3) 28 (0.6) 51 (0.6)
Black 6 (0.4) 12 (0.6) 28 (0.8) 27 (0.8) 27 (1.0) 8 (0.5) 10 (0.5) 27 (0.7) 26 (0.7) 29 (0.8) 5 (0.4) 7 (0.5) 22 (0.8) 26 (0.8) 41 (1.2) 4 (0.5) 6 (0.5) 20 (0.7) 26 (0.7) 44 (1.4)
Hispanic 6 (0.4) 13 (0.5) 32 (0.7) 27 (0.6) 21 (0.7) 6 (0.3) 13 (0.5) 28 (0.5) 28 (0.6) 25 (0.8) 3 (0.2) 8 (0.4) 25 (0.6) 33 (0.7) 30 (0.7) 3 (0.2) 6 (0.3) 23 (0.6) 31 (0.7) 37 (0.8)
Asian 2 (0.4) 9 (0.8) 26 (1.7) 35 (1.7) 28 (1.5) 3 (0.4) 10 (0.8) 28 (1.3) 32 (1.3) 28 (1.5) 1 (0.4) 4 (0.7) 17 (1.3) 32 (1.2) 45 (2.0) 1 (0.4) 4 (0.5) 16 (1.8) 27 (1.4) 53 (2.0)
Pacific Islander 7 (3.1) 7 (2.6) 34 (7.7) 25 (5.8) 28 (5.8) 8 (3.5) 14 (3.0) 25 (5.7) 26 (5.1) 28 (5.6) 2 (1.5) 9 (4.1) 25 (5.8) 28 (5.1) 36 (7.3) 2 (1.5) 6 (3.0) 15 (5.0) 35 (7.0) 41 (8.5)
American Indian/Alaska Native 9 (2.6) 8 (3.3) 28 (5.0) 32 (4.6) 23 (4.7) 5 (2.0) 10 (3.1) 22 (4.0) 24 (5.2) 39 (5.6) 3 (1.4) 9 (3.5) 21 (5.2) 31 (5.7) 35 (5.3) 2 (1.3) 4 (1.8) 25 (3.8) 21 (3.8) 48 (4.9)
Two or more races 4 (0.9) 12 (1.9) 24 (2.1) 27 (2.6) 33 (2.6) 4 (1.3) 8 (1.3) 27 (2.3) 27 (2.2) 34 (2.7) 2 (0.6) 5 (1.1) 17 (2.0) 30 (1.9) 46 (2.3) 1 (0.5) 6 (1.0) 18 (1.8) 22 (2.2) 54 (2.7)
                                                                                 
English language learner
      (ELL) status
                                                                               
ELL 9 (1.2) 19 (1.3) 37 (1.7) 23 (1.3) 12 (0.9) 8 (0.8) 13 (1.2) 32 (1.5) 26 (1.4) 21 (1.1) 7 (1.0) 12 (1.0) 34 (1.6) 28 (1.4) 19 (1.4) 5 (0.7) 9 (0.8) 30 (1.8) 30 (1.6) 26 (1.4)
Non-ELL 5 (0.2) 10 (0.2) 28 (0.4) 30 (0.4) 27 (0.5) 5 (0.2) 10 (0.2) 26 (0.3) 28 (0.3) 31 (0.4) 3 (0.1) 5 (0.2) 19 (0.3) 32 (0.4) 42 (0.6) 2 (0.2) 5 (0.1) 17 (0.3) 28 (0.3) 48 (0.4)
                                                                                 
Disability status2                                                                                
Identified as student
      with disability (SD)
12 (0.9) 15 (0.8) 33 (1.1) 22 (0.8) 18 (1.0) 12 (1.0) 11 (0.7) 27 (0.9) 23 (1.0) 28 (1.3) 9 (0.7) 12 (0.7) 29 (1.3) 28 (0.9) 22 (1.1) 8 (0.6) 10 (0.7) 28 (1.2) 26 (1.1) 29 (1.3)
Not identified as SD 4 (0.1) 10 (0.2) 28 (0.5) 31 (0.4) 27 (0.5) 4 (0.1) 10 (0.2) 26 (0.3) 29 (0.3) 30 (0.4) 2 (0.1) 5 (0.2) 18 (0.3) 32 (0.4) 43 (0.6) 2 (0.1) 4 (0.1) 16 (0.3) 28 (0.3) 49 (0.5)
                                                                                 
Highest education level of either
      parent3
                                                                               
Did not finish high school 7 (0.7) 15 (1.0) 36 (1.1) 24 (1.1) 18 (1.1) 6 (0.9) 12 (0.8) 28 (1.3) 29 (1.0) 25 (0.9) 4 (0.6) 9 (0.7) 29 (1.4) 32 (1.5) 26 (1.3) 4 (0.5) 8 (0.6) 27 (1.4) 30 (1.2) 32 (1.3)
Graduated high school 7 (0.5) 14 (0.6) 32 (0.7) 26 (0.8) 20 (0.9) 8 (0.7) 11 (0.5) 25 (0.7) 28 (0.7) 28 (0.8) 4 (0.4) 7 (0.5) 24 (0.7) 32 (0.8) 32 (0.9) 3 (0.4) 7 (0.5) 23 (0.8) 29 (1.0) 37 (0.8)
Some education after high school 4 (0.4) 10 (0.5) 29 (0.8) 31 (0.8) 26 (0.8) 4 (0.3) 10 (0.6) 27 (0.9) 28 (0.6) 30 (1.1) 1 (0.2) 5 (0.4) 19 (0.7) 34 (1.0) 41 (1.0) 2 (0.3) 4 (0.4) 16 (0.6) 31 (1.3) 48 (1.1)
Graduated college 3 (0.2) 8 (0.3) 25 (0.6) 33 (0.6) 32 (0.6) 4 (0.2) 9 (0.3) 25 (0.5) 29 (0.5) 32 (0.5) 2 (0.1) 4 (0.2) 15 (0.5) 31 (0.5) 48 (0.8) 2 (0.2) 3 (0.2) 14 (0.4) 27 (0.5) 55 (0.6)
                                                                                 
Percent of students in school
      eligible for free or reduced-
      price lunch
                                                                               
0-25 percent eligible 3 (0.3) 7 (0.6) 25 (0.9) 34 (0.8) 31 (1.1) 4 (0.4) 10 (0.7) 27 (1.0) 29 (0.7) 30 (0.9) 1 (0.2) 4 (0.4) 15 (0.7) 33 (0.7) 47 (1.1) 2 (0.3) 3 (0.4) 13 (0.6) 28 (0.8) 55 (1.0)
26-50 percent eligible 5 (0.4) 10 (0.5) 28 (0.9) 31 (0.6) 26 (0.7) 5 (0.3) 10 (0.4) 26 (0.5) 28 (0.7) 31 (0.6) 2 (0.2) 5 (0.4) 18 (0.6) 32 (0.9) 43 (1.1) 2 (0.3) 5 (0.3) 17 (0.6) 28 (0.6) 48 (0.8)
51-75 percent eligible 6 (0.4) 12 (0.5) 29 (1.0) 29 (0.8) 24 (0.9) 6 (0.4) 10 (0.4) 25 (0.6) 28 (1.0) 31 (0.9) 4 (0.4) 7 (0.3) 20 (0.5) 32 (0.7) 37 (0.8) 3 (0.3) 5 (0.3) 20 (0.6) 29 (0.7) 44 (0.9)
76-100 percent eligible 7 (0.5) 14 (0.5) 33 (0.7) 26 (0.8) 21 (0.8) 6 (0.4) 11 (0.6) 28 (0.8) 28 (0.8) 27 (0.8) 4 (0.3) 8 (0.5) 27 (0.8) 30 (0.8) 31 (0.9) 3 (0.4) 7 (0.5) 23 (0.6) 30 (0.7) 37 (0.9)
                                                                                 
School control                                                                                
Public 5 (0.2) 11 (0.3) 29 (0.5) 30 (0.4) 26 (0.4) 5 (0.2) 10 (0.2) 26 (0.3) 28 (0.4) 30 (0.4) 3 (0.1) 6 (0.2) 20 (0.3) 32 (0.4) 40 (0.6) 3 (0.2) 5 (0.2) 18 (0.3) 28 (0.3) 46 (0.4)
Private 2 (0.3) 8 (0.6) 25 (1.0) 30 (1.0) 34 (1.3) 3 (0.5) 9 (0.6) 26 (0.9) 30 (1.0) 31 (1.2) 1 (0.3) 3 (0.4) 13 (0.9) 32 (1.2) 50 (1.7) 1 (0.3) 3 (0.4) 13 (0.8) 24 (1.1) 59 (1.7)
                                                                                 
School locale                                                                                
City 5 (0.3) 11 (0.5) 29 (0.6) 29 (0.6) 26 (0.7) 5 (0.3) 11 (0.3) 27 (0.5) 29 (0.6) 28 (0.5) 3 (0.2) 6 (0.3) 20 (0.6) 31 (0.5) 39 (0.8) 2 (0.2) 6 (0.3) 19 (0.6) 27 (0.6) 45 (0.9)
Suburb 5 (0.3) 10 (0.4) 28 (0.5) 31 (0.6) 27 (0.7) 5 (0.3) 10 (0.3) 27 (0.5) 29 (0.5) 29 (0.6) 3 (0.2) 5 (0.3) 18 (0.6) 31 (0.5) 43 (0.9) 2 (0.2) 4 (0.2) 16 (0.5) 28 (0.5) 49 (0.9)
Town 6 (0.5) 12 (0.8) 27 (1.4) 30 (0.8) 25 (1.5) 5 (0.3) 9 (0.9) 24 (1.0) 29 (1.4) 32 (0.9) 3 (0.5) 5 (0.6) 21 (1.2) 31 (1.3) 40 (1.8) 2 (0.4) 5 (0.6) 18 (0.9) 29 (1.2) 45 (1.6)
Rural 5 (0.4) 11 (0.6) 29 (1.2) 30 (1.1) 26 (1.0) 5 (0.4) 10 (0.4) 25 (0.7) 27 (0.6) 33 (0.6) 3 (0.3) 5 (0.4) 20 (0.8) 33 (0.9) 40 (1.4) 3 (0.3) 4 (0.3) 17 (0.7) 29 (0.7) 46 (0.9)
†Not applicable.
‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate).
1 Scale ranges from 0 to 300.
2 The student with disability (SD) variable used in this table includes students who have a 504 plan, even if they do not have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
3 These data are based on students’ responses to questions about their parents’ education level. Data for students whose parents have an unknown level of education are included in table totals, but not shown separately.
NOTE: Includes students tested with accommodations (10 percent of all 8th-graders); excludes only those students with disabilities and English language learners who were unable to be tested even with accommodations (1 percent of all 8th-graders). Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to total because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2014 Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL) Assessment, retrieved September 28, 2016, from the Main NAEP Data Explorer (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/). (This table was prepared September 2016.)