White students had higher scores than other racial/ethnic groups across all five selected percentiles, except for Asian/Pacific Islander students at the 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles where their scores were not significantly different.
Because of the recent changes to the assessment, the results from 2009 cannot be compared to those from previous assessment years. To establish the baseline for future science assessments, the overall average score for each grade was set at 150 on a 0 to 300 scale. Find out more about the new framework and what the assessment measures.
Read specific descriptions of what fourth-graders should know and be able to do at the Basic, Proficient, and Advanced science achievement levels.
Read more information on how to interpret NAEP science results, including how each student group is defined.