The percentage of graduates earning credits in STEM advanced mathematics courses and advanced science and engineering courses was greater in 2009 than in 1990.
Percentage of graduates earning credits in STEM courses: selected years, 1990-2009
| Year of graduation |
| 1990 |
2000 |
2005 |
2009 |
|---|
| Percentage of graduates |
Standard error |
Percentage of graduates |
Standard error |
Percentage of graduates |
Standard error |
Percentage of graduates |
Standard error |
|---|
| Algebra II |
53.0 |
* |
(1.33) |
67.4 |
* |
(1.42) |
70.3 |
* |
(1.00) |
75.6 |
|
(0.92) |
|---|
| Other advanced mathematics |
16.2 |
* |
(1.58) |
20.2 |
* |
(1.64) |
24.4 |
* |
(0.93) |
29.9 |
|
(1.14) |
|---|
| Pre-calculus/analysis |
13.7 |
* |
(0.93) |
26.6 |
* |
(1.40) |
29.5 |
* |
(0.99) |
35.3 |
|
(0.84) |
|---|
| Calculus |
7.2 |
* |
(0.54) |
12.5 |
* |
(0.74) |
14.4 |
* |
(0.53) |
16.8 |
|
(0.65) |
|---|
| Advanced biology |
27.5 |
* |
(1.53) |
39.5 |
* |
(1.73) |
40.4 |
* |
(0.99) |
44.7 |
|
(0.88) |
|---|
| Chemistry |
45.0 |
* |
(1.16) |
56.6 |
* |
(1.64) |
55.8 |
* |
(1.17) |
69.6 |
|
(0.91) |
|---|
| Advanced environmental/earth science |
4.6 |
* |
(0.98) |
4.6 |
* |
(1.07) |
6.4 |
* |
(0.64) |
10.7 |
|
(0.96) |
|---|
| Physics |
23.9 |
* |
(0.93) |
34.5 |
* |
(1.29) |
35.5 |
* |
(1.03) |
38.7 |
|
(1.10) |
|---|
| Engineering |
0.1 |
* |
(0.04) |
1.3 |
* |
(0.22) |
1.5 |
* |
(0.25) |
3.3 |
|
(0.34) |
|---|
| Engineering/science technologies |
1.6 |
* |
(0.31) |
6.4 |
|
(0.78) |
7.0 |
|
(0.49) |
6.1 |
|
(0.49) |
|---|
| Health science/technology |
3.0 |
* |
(0.59) |
10.2 |
|
(1.19) |
9.2 |
|
(0.78) |
9.2 |
|
(0.56) |
|---|
| Computer science |
25.4 |
* |
(1.38) |
24.8 |
* |
(1.63) |
19.6 |
|
(0.91) |
18.8 |
|
(0.81) |
|---|
* Significantly different (p<.05) from 2009.
NOTE: "Other advanced mathematics" includes primarily trigonometry and statistics/probability courses. "Advanced biology" courses include AP/IB biology, physiology, anatomy, and genetics. "Advanced environmental and earth sciences" courses include AP/IB environmental science, college preparatory earth science, and various geology courses. "Engineering/science technologies" courses focus on instrumentation, equipment maintenance, and other technical tasks conducted in engineering and science-related occupations.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, High School Transcript Study (HSTS), various years, 1990-2009.