Back To School Series
E-Mail
CER
CER Back-to- School Alert 2000
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Scores on math, science and reading show uneven progress at best.
American 9 year olds have showed no significant progress in reading since 1990, and the black/white gap is still significant.
Math scores were up slightly on the NAEP, as they were on the SAT scores just released for college bound students. But their achievement remains inadequate at all levels of schooling, with proficiency in math still reserved for the best and brightest.
The good news is that all the fussing and demands made by reformers over the last ten years has paid off in terms of the coursework being offered to students. Without the hoopla, we wouldn't be able to say today that more children are taking advanced math than ever before, and science is now a requirement for most high schoolers throughout their career.
Yet being exposed to a course and actually mastering the subject are still vastly different. The NAEP results show we still have far to go until the achievement in these and other core subjects bear real fruit.
| YEAR | ||
| 1971 | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 285 | 288 |
| Age 13 | 255 | 259 |
| Age 9 | 208 | 212 |
Highest Reading Scores
- Age 17: 290 in 1988, 1990, & 1992
- Age 13: 260 in 1992
- Age 9: 215 in 1980
Lowest Reading Scores
- Age 17: 285 in 1971 & 1980
- Age 13: 255 in 1971
- Age 9: 208 in 1971
Significant Trends in Reading Since 1971
- Age 17: No Significant Change
- Age 13: Significant Increase
- Age 9: Significant Increase
Significant Trends in Reading Since 1990
- Age 17: No Significant Change
- Age 13: Significant Increase
- Age 9: No Significant Change
MATH: Trends in Average Scale Scores for the Nation in Mathematics for all Students
| YEAR | ||
| 1973 | 1999 * | |
| Age 17 | 304 | 308 |
| Age 13 | 266 | 276 |
| Age 9 | 219 | 232 |
* Mathematics Scores in 1999 are Highest Scores to date.
Lowest Mathematics Scores
- Age 17: 298 in 1982
- Age 13: 264 in 1978
- Age 9: 219 in 1973, 1978, & 1982
Significant Trends in Mathematics Since 1973
- All Ages: Significant Increase
Significant Trends in Mathematics Since 1990
- All Ages: Significant Increase
SCIENCE: Trends in Average Scale Scores for the Nation in Science for all Students
| YEAR | ||
| 1969/1970 | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 305 | 295 |
| Age 13 | 255 | 256 |
| Age 9 | 225 | 229 |
Highest Science Scores
- Age 17: 305 in 1969
- Age 13: 258 in 1992
- Age 9: 231 in 1992 & 1994
Lowest Science Scores
- Age 17: 283 in 1982
- Age 13: 247 in 1977
- Age 9: 220 in 1973 & 1977
Significant Trends in Science Since 1969/70
- Age 17: Significant Decrease
- Age 13: No Significant Change
- Age 9: Significant Increase
Significant Trends in Science Since 1990
- Age 17: Significant Increase
- Age 13: No Significant Change
- Age 9: No Significant Change
| Black Students | YEAR | |
| 1971 * | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 239 | 264 |
| Age 13 | 222 | 238 |
| Age 9 | 170 | 186 |
* Reading Scores in 1971 are Lowest Score to date (Black Students)
Highest Reading Scores (Black Students)
- Age 17: 274 in 1988
- Age 13: 243 in 1988
- Age 9: 191 in 1996
Significant Trends in Reading Since 1971 (Black Students)
- All Ages: Significant Increase
Significant Trends in Reading Since 1990 (Black Students)
- All Ages: No Significant Change
MINORITY MATH: Black Students: Trends for the Nation in Mathematics
| Black Students | YEAR | |
| 1973 | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 270 | 283 |
| Age 13 | 228 | 251 |
| Age 9 | 190 | 211 |
Highest Mathematics Scores (Black Students)
- Age 17: 289 in 1990
- Age 13: 252 in 1994 & 1996
- Age 9: 212 in 1994 & 1996
Lowest Mathematics Scores (Black Students)
- Age 17: 268 in 1978
- Age 13: 228 in 1973
- Age 9: 190 in 1973
Significant Trends in Mathematics Since 1971 (Black Students)
- All Ages: Significant Increase
Significant Trends in Mathematics Since 1990 (Black Students)
- All Ages: No Significant Change
MINORITY SCIENCE: Black Students: Trends for the Nation in Science
| Black Students | YEAR | |
| 1969/70 | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 258 | 254 |
| Age 13 | 215 | 227 |
| Age 9 | 179 | 199 |
Highest Science Scores (Black Students)
- Age 17: 260 in 1996
- Age 13: 227 in 1999
- Age 9: 202 in 1996
Lowest Science Scores (Black Students)
- Age 17: 235 in 1982
- Age 13: 205 in 1973
- Age 9: 175 in 1977
Significant Trends in Science Since 1969/70 (Black Students)
- Age 17: No Significant Change
- Age 13: Significant Increase
- Age 9: Significant Increase
Significant Trends in Science Since 1990 (Black Students)
- All Ages: No Significant Change
READING: Racial Gap between Blacks and Whites for the Nation in Reading
| YEAR | ||
| 1971 * | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 53 | 31 |
| Age 13 | 39 | 29 |
| Age 9 | 44 | 35 |
Smallest Reading Gap
- Age 17: 20 in 1988
- Age 13: 18 in 1988
- Age 9: 29 in 1988 & 1996
* Greatest Reading Gap occurred in 1971
Significant Trends in Reading Gap Since 1971
- All Ages: Gap has Narrowed
Significant Trends in Reading Gap Since 1990
- Age 17: No Significant Change
- Age 13: Gap has Widened
- Age 9: No Significant Change
MATH: Racial Gap between Blacks and Whites for the Nation in Mathematics
| YEAR | ||
| 1973 * | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 40 | 31 |
| Age 13 | 46 | 32 |
| Age 9 | 35 | 28 |
Smallest Mathematics Gap
- Age 17: 21 in 1988
- Age 13: 24 in 1986
- Age 9: 25 in 1986, 1994, & 1996
* Greatest Mathematics Gap Occurred in 1973
Significant Trends in Mathematics Gap Since 1973
- All Ages: Gap has Narrowed
Significant Trends in Mathematics Gap Since 1990
- Age 17: Gap has Widened
- Age 13: No Significant Change
- Age 9: No Significant Change
SCIENCE: Racial Gap between Blacks and Whites for the Nation in Science
| YEAR | ||
| 1969/70 | 1999 | |
| Age 17 | 54 | 52 |
| Age 13 | 49 | 39 |
| Age 9 | 57 | 41 |
Smallest Science Gap
- Age 17: 45 in 1986
- Age 13: 38 in 1986 & 1990
- Age 9: 36 in 1986
Greatest Science Gap
- Age 17: 58 in 1982
- Age 13: 53 in 1973
- Age 9: 57 in 1970
Significant Trends in Science Gap Since 1969/70
- Age 17: No Significant Change
- Age 13: Gap has Narrowed
- Age 9: Gap has Narrowed
Significant Trends in Science Gap Since 1990
- All Ages: No Significant Change
# # #
Return to:
A CLOSE LOOK AT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: SAT and NAEP scores reflect minimal progress, CER Back-to-School 2000 Series, August 30, 2000.
# # #
The Center for Education Reform [CER] is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For additional information on education reform please call CER at (202) 822-9000.