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Digest of Education Statistics
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Table 224.74b. Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) technology and engineering literacy (TEL) scale score and percentage distribution of 8th-graders, by frequency of having done or of learning about various design- and systems-related activities or topics in school and selected student and school characteristics: 2014
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Selected student or school characteristic Frequency of ever having done activity in school1 Frequency of learning about or discussing this topic in school1: Designing or creating something to solve a problem
Figured out why something is not working in order to fix it Taken something apart in order to fix it or see how it works
Never Once or twice Three to five times More than five times Never Once or twice Three to five times More than five times Never Rarely Sometimes Often
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
  Average TEL scale score2
All students 150 (0.8) 150 (0.8) 150 (0.8) 152 (0.7) 153 (0.6) 152 (0.8) 145 (1.0) 141 (0.9) 140 (1.4) 150 (0.7) 153 (0.7) 149 (0.8)
Sex                                                
Male 148 (1.1) 149 (1.0) 149 (1.0) 151 (0.9) 153 (0.8) 151 (1.0) 144 (1.3) 141 (0.9) 138 (1.7) 148 (1.1) 152 (0.7) 148 (0.9)
Female 151 (0.8) 151 (0.8) 152 (0.8) 153 (1.1) 154 (0.6) 152 (0.8) 146 (1.4) 142 (1.7) 143 (1.6) 153 (0.8) 154 (0.8) 149 (0.8)
                                                 
Race/ethnicity                                                
White 159 (1.2) 161 (1.0) 161 (1.1) 161 (1.0) 162 (0.9) 163 (1.2) 158 (1.2) 151 (1.1) 150 (1.8) 160 (1.3) 163 (0.8) 159 (1.1)
Black 131 (1.6) 128 (1.7) 128 (1.3) 130 (1.4) 134 (1.2) 129 (1.2) 121 (2.2) 123 (1.5) 117 (2.6) 127 (1.8) 131 (1.4) 128 (1.0)
Hispanic 139 (0.9) 138 (0.8) 138 (1.3) 141 (1.4) 143 (0.8) 137 (1.0) 133 (1.3) 132 (1.6) 131 (2.1) 137 (1.1) 139 (0.9) 139 (1.1)
Asian 162 (3.0) 157 (2.7) 158 (2.6) 167 (2.5) 163 (2.2) 163 (2.6) 152 (3.4) 153 (3.6) 152 (6.4) 159 (3.1) 160 (2.1) 165 (2.0)
Pacific Islander (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
American Indian/Alaska Native (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
Two or more races 155 (4.6) 158 (3.3) 150 (5.1) 156 (4.2) 158 (3.2) 155 (4.0) 147 (5.6) (†) (†) 150 (5.0) 158 (4.0) 156 (3.1)
                                                 
English language learner (ELL) status                                                
ELL 106 (2.8) 108 (2.2) 110 (1.9) 113 (2.9) 113 (1.8) 107 (2.1) 107 (2.6) 107 (2.7) 97 (3.2) 107 (2.4) 109 (2.1) 113 (2.1)
Non-ELL 152 (0.8) 152 (0.8) 153 (0.8) 153 (0.7) 155 (0.6) 154 (0.8) 148 (1.0) 144 (0.9) 143 (1.4) 152 (0.7) 155 (0.7) 150 (0.8)
                                                 
Disability status3                                                
Identified as student with disability (SD) 117 (2.0) 116 (1.7) 116 (2.1) 120 (2.6) 123 (1.6) 117 (1.6) 111 (2.5) 109 (2.1) 107 (2.4) 116 (2.1) 120 (1.4) 117 (1.8)
Not identified as SD 154 (0.7) 154 (0.7) 154 (0.8) 156 (0.8) 157 (0.5) 156 (0.8) 150 (1.1) 147 (1.0) 148 (1.2) 155 (0.6) 157 (0.7) 152 (0.8)
                                                 
Highest education level of either parent4                                                
Did not finish high school 135 (1.9) 132 (1.4) 135 (1.7) 130 (2.8) 138 (1.3) 131 (1.6) 129 (1.8) 123 (2.7) 125 (3.3) 132 (1.8) 133 (1.4) 135 (1.8)
Graduated high school 138 (1.5) 139 (1.4) 136 (1.6) 138 (2.0) 142 (1.0) 138 (1.5) 131 (2.2) 128 (2.3) 127 (2.7) 137 (1.4) 140 (1.1) 136 (1.6)
Some education after high school 153 (1.5) 152 (1.2) 151 (1.2) 152 (1.6) 156 (0.9) 152 (1.5) 146 (1.4) 145 (2.4) 146 (2.2) 154 (1.5) 153 (1.3) 150 (1.2)
Graduated college 159 (1.0) 160 (0.9) 159 (1.0) 160 (0.9) 162 (0.7) 162 (1.0) 155 (1.3) 151 (1.1) 152 (1.8) 159 (0.9) 163 (0.8) 156 (1.0)
                                                 
Percent of students in school eligible for
      free or reduced-price lunch
                                               
0 to 25 percent eligible 167 (1.5) 167 (1.3) 167 (1.6) 169 (1.5) 169 (1.2) 169 (1.3) 162 (2.1) 162 (2.2) 161 (2.8) 166 (1.3) 169 (1.3) 166 (1.8)
26 to 50 percent eligible 156 (1.3) 156 (1.4) 154 (1.4) 155 (1.4) 158 (0.9) 157 (1.5) 150 (1.8) 145 (2.2) 143 (2.8) 156 (1.4) 158 (1.2) 154 (1.2)
51 to 75 percent eligible 143 (1.2) 144 (1.2) 143 (1.2) 143 (1.6) 147 (0.9) 144 (1.4) 140 (1.6) 134 (1.6) 134 (2.5) 142 (1.2) 146 (0.8) 143 (1.3)
76 to 100 percent eligible 134 (1.4) 132 (1.3) 132 (1.7) 132 (1.6) 137 (1.1) 132 (1.4) 125 (2.1) 124 (1.6) 126 (2.3) 129 (1.2) 134 (1.3) 133 (1.4)
                                                 
School control                                                
Public 149 (0.8) 149 (0.8) 149 (0.8) 150 (0.8) 152 (0.6) 151 (0.8) 144 (1.0) 140 (0.9) 138 (1.4) 149 (0.8) 152 (0.7) 148 (0.8)
Private 162 (2.0) 164 (2.0) 164 (1.6) 167 (2.4) 165 (1.9) 166 (1.7) 162 (2.8) 157 (2.7) 163 (3.8) 165 (2.2) 165 (1.7) 161 (2.1)
                                                 
School locale                                                
City 145 (1.2) 144 (1.1) 144 (1.3) 147 (1.4) 149 (0.9) 145 (1.2) 138 (1.8) 136 (1.7) 136 (2.0) 145 (1.2) 147 (1.3) 143 (1.2)
Suburb 153 (1.2) 154 (1.3) 154 (1.2) 157 (1.2) 157 (1.0) 156 (1.2) 150 (1.8) 146 (1.3) 143 (2.3) 153 (1.2) 156 (1.0) 153 (1.3)
Town 148 (2.5) 150 (1.6) 148 (2.3) 151 (2.6) 151 (1.4) 153 (2.4) 145 (2.9) 140 (2.7) 137 (2.4) 148 (2.1) 151 (1.8) 149 (2.6)
Rural 152 (1.6) 152 (1.9) 152 (1.9) 151 (1.4) 155 (1.3) 154 (2.0) 146 (2.2) 141 (2.1) 143 (3.1) 153 (1.9) 154 (1.7) 149 (1.4)
  Percentage distribution of students
All students 23 (0.5) 35 (0.4) 24 (0.4) 18 (0.4) 43 (0.6) 31 (0.4) 14 (0.3) 12 (0.3) 7 (0.3) 22 (0.4) 44 (0.4) 27 (0.4)
Sex                                                
Male 22 (0.6) 33 (0.5) 24 (0.4) 21 (0.5) 41 (0.8) 29 (0.6) 15 (0.4) 16 (0.5) 8 (0.3) 21 (0.5) 44 (0.6) 26 (0.5)
Female 24 (0.5) 36 (0.6) 24 (0.6) 16 (0.4) 46 (0.7) 32 (0.6) 13 (0.4) 8 (0.3) 6 (0.3) 23 (0.6) 44 (0.6) 27 (0.6)
                                                 
Race/ethnicity                                                
White 23 (0.7) 35 (0.5) 24 (0.6) 18 (0.5) 45 (0.9) 31 (0.7) 13 (0.4) 11 (0.5) 7 (0.3) 23 (0.6) 45 (0.6) 24 (0.6)
Black 22 (0.7) 34 (1.0) 25 (0.9) 20 (0.6) 40 (1.0) 30 (0.8) 15 (0.6) 15 (0.6) 8 (0.4) 20 (1.0) 40 (0.8) 32 (1.1)
Hispanic 25 (0.7) 35 (0.7) 24 (0.6) 16 (0.5) 44 (0.9) 29 (0.6) 15 (0.6) 11 (0.4) 7 (0.4) 21 (0.7) 44 (0.7) 28 (1.0)
Asian 18 (1.4) 36 (1.8) 24 (1.3) 21 (1.1) 40 (1.5) 34 (1.1) 14 (1.1) 12 (1.2) 5 (0.6) 21 (1.2) 47 (1.2) 26 (1.2)
Pacific Islander 22 (4.9) 32 (7.3) 23 (7.4) 23 (5.1) 37 (7.7) 45 (6.4) 10 (3.4) 8 (3.3) 6 (3.0) 21 (5.8) 42 (7.5) 30 (9.6)
American Indian/Alaska Native 21 (4.7) 33 (4.6) 27 (4.2) 19 (4.1) 40 (4.6) 27 (4.2) 16 (3.2) 17 (4.4) 11 (3.4) 20 (4.0) 43 (5.4) 26 (3.3)
Two or more races 22 (2.1) 33 (2.0) 26 (2.3) 18 (2.1) 40 (2.4) 31 (2.0) 18 (2.0) 11 (1.6) 7 (1.1) 22 (2.6) 42 (2.8) 29 (2.5)
                                                 
English language learner (ELL) status                                                
ELL 19 (1.4) 35 (1.5) 30 (1.5) 15 (1.3) 32 (1.5) 32 (1.1) 21 (1.3) 15 (1.1) 8 (1.0) 22 (1.3) 46 (1.9) 24 (1.6)
Non-ELL 23 (0.5) 35 (0.4) 24 (0.4) 18 (0.4) 44 (0.6) 31 (0.5) 14 (0.3) 12 (0.3) 7 (0.3) 22 (0.4) 44 (0.4) 27 (0.5)
                                                 
Disability status3                                                
Identified as student with disability (SD) 24 (1.4) 34 (1.2) 23 (0.9) 19 (1.0) 38 (1.3) 30 (1.1) 16 (0.8) 16 (0.8) 12 (0.9) 22 (0.9) 42 (1.2) 24 (0.8)
Not identified as SD 23 (0.5) 35 (0.4) 24 (0.4) 18 (0.4) 44 (0.5) 31 (0.4) 14 (0.3) 11 (0.3) 7 (0.3) 22 (0.4) 45 (0.4) 27 (0.5)
                                                 
Highest education level of either parent4                                                
Did not finish high school 25 (1.2) 36 (1.4) 25 (0.9) 14 (0.9) 44 (1.6) 30 (1.5) 15 (1.0) 11 (0.7) 10 (0.7) 20 (1.0) 43 (1.5) 27 (1.3)
Graduated high school 23 (0.9) 37 (0.9) 24 (0.9) 16 (0.6) 44 (1.1) 29 (0.9) 13 (0.7) 14 (0.7) 8 (0.6) 22 (0.7) 44 (0.8) 26 (1.0)
Some education after high school 23 (0.9) 34 (0.9) 25 (0.9) 18 (0.7) 45 (1.1) 31 (0.9) 14 (0.8) 11 (0.7) 7 (0.7) 21 (1.0) 44 (1.1) 28 (1.0)
Graduated college 22 (0.5) 33 (0.5) 24 (0.5) 20 (0.5) 42 (0.7) 32 (0.6) 14 (0.3) 12 (0.4) 6 (0.2) 22 (0.5) 44 (0.6) 27 (0.5)
                                                 
Percent of students in school eligible for
      free or reduced-price lunch
                                               
0-25 percent eligible 21 (1.1) 34 (0.9) 26 (1.0) 20 (0.9) 43 (1.2) 32 (1.0) 13 (0.5) 11 (0.8) 5 (0.4) 25 (1.0) 46 (1.1) 24 (1.1)
26-50 percent eligible 22 (0.8) 35 (0.8) 24 (0.8) 19 (0.8) 43 (1.0) 32 (0.8) 14 (0.5) 11 (0.6) 6 (0.4) 22 (0.8) 45 (0.9) 26 (0.8)
51-75 percent eligible 23 (0.8) 35 (0.9) 23 (0.9) 18 (0.6) 43 (1.1) 29 (0.7) 14 (0.7) 13 (0.7) 8 (0.6) 21 (0.9) 43 (0.9) 28 (1.0)
76-100 percent eligible 25 (1.0) 35 (0.9) 25 (0.9) 16 (0.8) 44 (1.2) 29 (0.8) 15 (0.9) 12 (0.6) 8 (0.6) 20 (0.7) 43 (0.8) 29 (0.9)
                                                 
School control                                                
Public 23 (0.5) 35 (0.4) 24 (0.4) 18 (0.4) 43 (0.6) 31 (0.4) 14 (0.3) 12 (0.3) 7 (0.3) 22 (0.4) 44 (0.4) 27 (0.5)
Private 24 (1.1) 35 (1.3) 23 (1.1) 18 (1.1) 47 (1.7) 32 (1.5) 12 (0.7) 9 (0.8) 7 (0.8) 24 (0.7) 44 (1.1) 24 (1.1)
                                                 
School locale                                                
City 23 (0.5) 35 (0.5) 24 (0.5) 18 (0.5) 43 (0.7) 31 (0.5) 14 (0.5) 11 (0.4) 8 (0.5) 21 (0.6) 44 (0.6) 28 (0.7)
Suburb 23 (0.7) 34 (0.7) 25 (0.6) 19 (0.6) 43 (0.8) 31 (0.6) 14 (0.4) 12 (0.5) 7 (0.3) 23 (0.7) 45 (0.6) 25 (0.7)
Town 23 (1.8) 35 (1.6) 25 (1.8) 17 (1.2) 43 (2.0) 30 (1.3) 14 (0.9) 13 (0.8) 7 (1.0) 22 (1.3) 43 (1.2) 28 (1.8)
Rural 23 (0.8) 35 (0.8) 23 (0.8) 18 (0.8) 44 (1.1) 31 (1.0) 13 (0.7) 12 (0.7) 7 (0.5) 22 (1.0) 45 (0.8) 27 (0.8)
†Not applicable.
‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate).
1 Based on student reports.
2 Scale ranges from 0 to 300.
3 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).
4 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 totals 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 18, 2016, from the Main NAEP Data Explorer (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/). (This table was prepared September 2016.)

2022 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest