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Compare Science Achievement-Level Results for Your State Across Years

  • At grade 4 between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of students performing at or above Basic increased in six states, and the percentage at or above Proficient increased in four states. 
  • At grade 8 between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of students performing at or above Basic increased in six states and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, and decreased in one state. The percentage of students performing at or above Proficient increased between 2000 and 2005 in four states.
  • The percentage of grade 8 students performing at or above Basic was higher in 2005 than in 1996 for seven states and the DoDEA schools, and lower in 2005 in four states. The percentage of students performing at or above Proficient increased between 1996 and 2005 in nine states and the DoDEA schools, and decreased in one state.
Trend in percentage of eighth-grade students at or above Basic in NAEP science, by state
State/jurisdiction 19961 20001 2000 2005
     Nation (public) 60   59 57   57
Alabama 47 51 53 48
Alaska 65
Arizona 55 * 57 * 55 * 49
Arkansas 55 54 53 56
California 47   40   38 * 44
Colorado 68 66
Connecticut 68 * 65 64 63
Delaware 51 * 63
Florida 51 51
Georgia 49   52   52   53
Hawaii 42 40 40 44
Idaho 73 71 71
Illinois 62 59 58
Indiana 65 68 * 66 62
Iowa 71      
Kansas
Kentucky 58 * 62 60 63
Louisiana 40 * 45 44 47
Maine 78 * 75 72 72
Maryland 55   59 * 57   54
Massachusetts 69 74 70 72
Michigan 65 69 68 66
Minnesota 72 73 72 71
Mississippi 39 42 41 40
Missouri 64   68   66   66
Montana 77 80 79 76
Nebraska 71 70 71
Nevada 54 * 52 48
New Hampshire 76
New Jersey       65
New Mexico 49 48 48 46
New York 57 61 58
North Carolina 56 56 54 53
North Dakota 78 74 * 72 * 77
Ohio   73 * 72   67
Oklahoma 62 60 57
Oregon 68 67 68 66
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island 59 61 * 58 58
South Carolina 45 * 50   48 * 54
South Dakota 76
Tennessee 53 57 55 55
Texas 55 53 52 53
Utah 70 * 68 67 65
Vermont 70 * 74   71 * 76
Virginia 59 * 63 61 * 66
Washington 61 * 66
West Virginia 56 61 * 57 57
Wisconsin 73 70
Wyoming 71   71   69 * 74
Other jurisdictions
   District of Columbia2  19
   DoDEA3 67 * 71   71 * 75
—  Not available. The jurisdiction did not participate.
‡ Reporting standards not met. 
* Significantly different from 2005 when only one jurisdiction or the nation is being examined.
1 Accommodations were not permitted for this assessment.
2 The District of Columbia did not participate in the 2005 science assessment due to an insufficient sample size.
3 Department of Defense Education Activity. Before 2005, DoDEA overseas and domestic schools were separate jurisdictions in NAEP. For this table, 2000 data were recalculated for comparability. 

Learn more about the science assessment and achievement levels on the NAEP website. More information about state performance is available in the State Profiles tool.

Find out which states participated in the 2005 science assessment.

View information about the percentage of students with disabilities and English language learners identified, excluded, and assessed at the state level.

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