NAEP 2011: Hawaii celebrates gains in Grade 8 Science

Only state to make significant progress in all 2011 NAEP assessments: science, math, and reading

News Release from Hawaii DoE

Hawaii public schools today celebrated gains in its grade 8 science scores as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released “The Nation’s Report Card” spring 2011 state-by-state results. NAEP announced the results for mathematics and reading last November.

While the nation, Hawaii, and 15 other states achieved meaningful progress since the 2009 NAEP science assessment, Hawaii was the only state to make significant gains in all 2011 NAEP assessments: grade 4 and 8 mathematics, grade 4 and 8 reading, and grade 8 science.

“Hawaii’s eighth graders have narrowed the achievement gap with their peers across the nation in science,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi.“‘While our steadfast commitment to rigorous standards-based education is paying off, we still have much work to do. We must improve coursework and student participation in science, technology, engineering, and math pathways to further increase STEM proficiency at all grade levels.”

“I commend our students and educators for their good progress, commitment and hard work.”

Between January and March 2011, NAEP administered assessments in all 50 states and two jurisdictions (District of Columbia and Department of Defense schools) to a nationally representative sample of 422,000 fourth- and 465,000 eighth-grade students.

NAEP is a congressionally mandated project of the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).According to the NCES, the NAEP Science assessment measures students' knowledge in physical science, life science, and earth and space sciences. Introduced in 2009, it is based on a new and more challenging framework incorporating current science advances, innovations in assessment approaches, and growth in national and international science assessments. Due to the new testing framework, assessment results for 2011 can only be compared to 2009.

NAEP 2011 Science Results -- Grade 8

Hawaii placed twelfth among the states in scale score gains between 2009 and 2011. Average scale score for grade 8 science increased from 139 to 142 between 2009 and 2011. In comparison, the national average increased two points from 149 to 151.

On NAEP achievement levels, 55% of Hawaii's eighth graders were at or above Basic level, including 22% at or above Proficient level and 1% at Advanced level. Nationwide, 64% were at or above Basic, including 31% at or above Proficient and 2% Advanced.

Hawaii’s students performed best in earth and space science.

Hawaii's average scale score was higher than or statistically equivalent to six of the 52 states and jurisdictions tested. Hawaii was higher than Louisiana and the District of Columbia, and equivalent to Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Hawaii's achievement level (at or above 22 percent Proficient, up from 17 percent in 2009) was higher than or statistically equivalent to nine of the 52 states or other jurisdictions. It was higher than the District of Columbia and equivalent to Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and West Virginia,(sic)  

NAEP achievement levels are set by the National Assessment Governing Board. "Basic" indicates partial mastery of prerequisite grade-level knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade, "Proficient" represents solid academic performance and demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, and "Advanced" stands for superior performance.(Note: NAEP “Proficient” is not synonymous with proficiency targets under No Child Left Behind.)

-DOE-

NAEP web page: http://nationsreportcard.gov