WASHINGTON – Elementary school children are getting better in science, but middle and high school students are not, a blow for a nation wary about losing its competitive edge.
Federal test scores released yesterday indicate that fourth-grade students posted small gains over the past five years, mostly through improvement by the lowest-performing children.
The progress was interpreted by education officials as a sign that greater attention to elementary students' math and reading skills – as demanded by the No Child Left Behind law – may also be helping in science.
The test found students in grades eight and 12 failed to improve at all since 2000 in their knowledge of earth, physical and life sciences.
The high school seniors actually did worse in science when compared with scores of a decade ago. Almost half of the 12th-graders taking the test in 2005 fell short of showing basic science skills.
“We need to get busy. And that starts with ensuring that all students have access to a strong science curriculum and the teachers with the skills and knowledge to teach science well,” said Kati Haycock, director of the Education Trust, which advocates for poor and minority children.
The science scores are from the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress, a federal test given periodically on a range of topics. It is considered the best yardstick of how U.S. students perform over time and of how states stack up against each other.
The lackluster performance of older children underscores a deep concern among political and business executives, who see eroding science achievement as a threat to the U.S. economy.
National leaders want to create the same level of urgency around science that existed during the Cold War space race. For symbolism, education officials released the test scores at the National Air and Space Museum.
California's fourth-and eighth-grade students registered some progress.
But despite the improvement, California's students have further to go. At least half of all students still scored below basic on their science knowledge, more than any other state besides Mississippi.
Fifty percent of California fourth-graders were below basic, compared with 34 percent nationally. For eighth-graders, 56 percent were below basic, compared with 43 percent nationally.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said he was pleased by the improvement but said the scores were not good enough.
