In 2009, a greater percentage of male graduates than female graduates took physics and engineering courses, while a greater percentage of females took chemistry and advanced biology courses.
Percentage of graduates who earned credits in STEM advanced science and engineering courses, by gender: 2009
| Gender |
| Male |
Female |
|---|
| Percentage of graduates |
Standard error |
Percentage of graduates |
Standard error |
|---|
| Advanced biology |
39.4 |
|
(0.90) |
49.9 |
* |
(1.01) |
|---|
| Chemistry |
66.7 |
|
(1.01) |
72.4 |
* |
(1.00) |
|---|
| Physics |
41.5 |
|
(1.34) |
35.9 |
* |
(1.05) |
|---|
| Advanced environmental/earth science |
10.8 |
|
(1.00) |
10.7 |
|
(0.99) |
|---|
| Engineering |
5.6 |
|
(0.58) |
1.1 |
* |
(0.15) |
|---|
* Significantly different (p<.05) from males.
NOTE: "Advanced biology" courses include AP/IB biology, physiology, anatomy, and genetics. "Advanced environmental and earth sciences" courses include AP/IB environmental science, college preparatory earth science, and various geology courses.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, High School Transcript Study (HSTS), 2009.