Test Shows Indiana Students A Bit Behind

Advertisement

(STATEHOUSE) - Indiana’s scores on a national science test have slipped.

Indiana remains ahead of the U.S. average on the national assessment for
education progress, but eighth-graders' average score is two points lower
than the last test five years ago.

Fourth-graders slipped two points while the national average went up. State NAEP Coordinator Jennifer Zych says state officials can't pinpoint what needs improvement, because they're not the ones in the classroom. She says local schools and science teachers should reexamine the time devoted to science and the way it's taught.

The test says 70% of fourth-graders and 62% of eighth-graders have a basic grasp of science. Both numbers are down four points from the last test. Overall, the state's fourth-graders ranked 20th in terms of average score and 22nd in terms of the pass rate. Eighth-graders' scores rank 23rd while their pass rate ranks 24th.

Print this story