TEA News Releases Online
May 10, 2012
Texas African-American students rank fourth nationally
on eighth-grade science NAEP
AUSTIN – Texas students in every major ethnic group significantly outscored their peers nationally on the eighth grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science test, with the state’s African-American students earning the fourth highest score in the country compared to other African-American students.
Test results released today by the National Center for Education Statistics show that when the data is reported by ethnic groups, Texas’ Hispanic students earned the sixth highest score and the state’s white students ranked eighth among their peers.
Texas students who are Asian or English Language Learners also significantly outscored their peer groups nationally. Texans also substantially outperformed their peer groups from other large, diverse states.
Overall, Texas students earned a scale score of 153 on the test, besting the national score of 151. The state ranked 29th when the total testing population was considered.
“Although some groups have criticized our new science curriculum standards, the NAEP scores prove that Texas teachers and students are doing something very right in our science classrooms. Texans in every major ethnic group are outperforming their peers nationally, even though many of our students must overcome the obstacles associated with poverty to do so. This is Texas being Texas. I am extremely proud of our students and teachers,” said Commissioner of Education Robert Scott.
Grade 8 – Scale Score
Score Range 0-300
ELL ( English Language Learners)
SD ( Students with Disabilities)
Bolded numbers = statistically significantly higher than national public
Students took the 2011 NAEP during the first year that Texas’ revised science curriculum standards were in use in classrooms. Prior to implementation of the standards, science training academies were held for those who teach science in fifth through eighth grade.
“Training, revised curriculum standards and a renewed push to improve math and science education are paying off for this state,” Scott said.
The NAEP, called the “Nation’s Report Card” because a random sample of students in all states and territories take it, gives parents a way to compare educational performance in their state with students in other states.
Many of the states that earned higher average scores than Texas have distinctly different demographic compositions than this state.
Among African-American students, only students in Colorado, the Department of Defense schools and Virginia outperformed Texans.
Among Hispanic students, the states that earned higher average scores than Texas were the Department of Defense schools, Ohio, South Dakota, Kentucky and Alaska.
Among white students, only students in the following states earned a higher average scale score than did Texans: District of Columbia, Colorado, the Department of Defense schools, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Dakota and Minnesota.
Texas students drastically outperformed their peers in large, diverse states. The following chart shows the state rank on the science test.
The following charts show the difference in average scale scores between jurisdictions.
Science scores for Hispanic students
Science scores for African-American students
Science scores for white students
NOTE: DoDEA=Department of Defense Education Activity (overseas and domestic schools).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2011 Science Assessment.