South Carolina students lead nation in improving on national science tests
South Carolina students made dramatic improvements on national standardized science tests in 2005, the U.S. Department of Education announced today. The state’s fourth-graders had the best gains in the nation, while eighth-graders had the third-best gains.
The USDE also named South Carolina as one of only five states – the others were Virginia, Kentucky, California and Hawaii – to show improvement in both grades tested in the 2005 science administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as "The Nation's Report Card."
In addition to leading the nation in NAEP science improvement, South Carolina fourth-graders closed the gap between the state and national averages from five points in 2000, the last time NAEP science tests were administered across the country, to only one point in 2005. Eighth-graders closed the gap from eight points in 2000 to two points in 2005. Neither South Carolina grade’s score was statistically different from the national average.
“Our students and their science teachers have made very impressive gains," said State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum. "To jump to the national average so quickly is really something. But we need to raise the bar even higher. We need to focus on continuing to increase the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced.”
NAEP is the nation's only ongoing survey of what students know and can do in core academic subjects. It also is the only assessment that allows states to compare their results with other states, or with results for the rest of the nation. States are required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act to participate in fourth- and eighth-grade NAEP math and English language arts testing every two years. South Carolina and other states also participate voluntarily in science testing every four or five years, and 2005 results were released today in Washington.
The Palmetto State had previously drawn national attention for its NAEP improvement in math and English Language Arts. Three independent research studies (Educational Testing Service, Council of Chief State School Officers and Education Trust) have recognized South Carolina as a leader in NAEP scoring gains.
For the 2005 science tests administered early last spring, NAEP tested a demographically representative sample of about 2,800 South Carolina fourth-graders in 119 schools across the state. In Grade 8, about 2,700 students in 108 schools were tested.
Improvements were dramatic across the board for South Carolina, including students whose family incomes qualified them for free or reduced-price lunches, African-American students and students in special education.
NAEP science scores range from 0 to 300, with results reported as Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced. NAEP's scoring system is similar to that used in South Carolina's Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests, and PACT performance levels are linked with NAEP.
Palmetto State fourth-graders' average science score increased eight points from 2000 to 2005, from 140 to 148 (national average 149, up four points from 2000). Eighth-graders' average science score increased five points, from to 140 to 145 (national average 147, down one from 2000).
Sixty-four percent of South Carolina fourth-graders scored at or above Basic in 2005, compared to 54 percent in 2000. Fifty-four percent of eighth-graders scored at or above Basic in 2005, up from 48 percent in 2000. Nationally in 2005, 66 percent of fourth-graders and 57 percent of eighth-graders scored Basic or above.
Twenty-five percent of South Carolina fourth-graders scored Proficient or above in 2005, up from 20 percent in 2000. Twenty-three percent of eighth-graders scored Proficient or above in 2005, up from 20 percent in 2000. (Nationally in 2005, 27 percent of fourth-graders and 27 percent of eighth-graders scored Proficient or above.)
South Carolina decreased the percentage of students scoring Below Basic from 2000 to 2005, from 46 percent to 36 percent in Grade 4 (national 34 percent) and from 52 percent to 46 percent in Grade 8 (national 43 percent).
Overall in NAEP science, South Carolina fourth-graders scored about the same or better than students in 21 out of the 44 participating states. South Carolina scored higher than eight: Alabama, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and New Mexico. South Carolina fourth-grade science scores were not statistically different from 13 states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
Eighth-graders scored about the same or better in science than students in 19 states out of 44. South Carolina scored higher than 9: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and New Mexico. South Carolina eighth-grade science scores were not statistically different from 10 states: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
Additional NAEP science highlights:
· In addition to leading the nation in fourth-grade improvement, South Carolina was one of only nine states that saw scores increase in 2005. The Palmetto State was one of only 11 states that saw scores increase for eighth-graders.
· South Carolina fourth- and eighth-graders eligible for free or reduced-price lunches improved their performance between 2000 and 2005. Average scale scores increased nine points for fourth-graders, from 127 to 136 (national average 135); eighth-graders increased seven points, from 124 to 131 (national average 130).
· The 2005 gap between South Carolina's eligible and non-eligible fourth-graders was 26 points, compared to 29 points in 2000. The eighth-grade gap was 27 points, compared to 29 points in 2000.
· African-American fourth-graders improved their performance by 11 points, from 120 in 2000 to 131 in 2005 (national average 128). African-American eighth-graders improved their performance by seven points, from 120 to 127 (national average 123).
· South Carolina fourth-grade boys scored about the same as girls (150 to 147). South Carolina eighth-grade boys scored about the same as girls (146 to 144).
· Girls improved significantly from 2000 to 2005 in both grades, from 139 to 147 in Grade 4 and from 137 to 144 in Grade 8.
Tenenbaum renewed her call for Congress to set a national benchmark for "proficiency" under NCLB, which allows individual states to set their own proficiency standards to determine whether their schools meet AYP. South Carolina's academic proficiency standards are linked to NAEP's and have been ranked among the nation's toughest by six independent reviews. As a result, South Carolina's NAEP scores correspond closely with state PACT scores in science, math and English Language Arts. Many other states have set their standards lower, however, and students in those states tend to fare better on their state tests than on the national NAEP tests.
Ranking South Carolina’s NAEP gains against other states
All South Carolina students
· South Carolina fourth-graders had the best gains in the nation (8 points).
· South Carolina eighth-graders had the third-best gains in nation (5 points).
Free or Reduced-price Lunch Eligible Students
· Fourth-graders had the fifth-best gains in the nation (9 points).
· Eighth-graders had the fifth-best gains in the nation (7 points).
African American Students:
· Fourth-graders had the third-best gains in the nation (11 points).
· Eighth-graders had the fourth-best gains in the nation (7 points).
Gender:
· Fourth-grade girls had the highest gains in the nation (8 points), while boys had the second-best (9 points).
· Eighth-grade girls had the second-best gains in the nation (7 points), while boys had fourth-best gains (4 points).
Students with disabilities:
· South Carolina fourth- and eighth-graders with disabilities significantly improved their performance despite the fact that greater percentages of those students were tested between 2000 and 2005. Average scale scores increased 15 points for fourth-graders, from 114 to 129 (national average 133); eighth-graders increased 17 points, from 99 to 116 (national average 120).
· The 2005 gap between South Carolina's fourth-grade students with disabilities and students without disabilities was 22 points, compared to 30 points in 2000. The eighth-grade gap was 32 points, compared to 45 points in 2000.