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Compare Science Achievement-Level Results for Your State Across Years

  • At grade 4 between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of students performing at or above Basic increased in six states, and the percentage at or above Proficient increased in four states. 
  • At grade 8 between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of students performing at or above Basic increased in six states and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, and decreased in one state. The percentage of students performing at or above Proficient increased between 2000 and 2005 in four states.
  • The percentage of grade 8 students performing at or above Basic was higher in 2005 than in 1996 for seven states and the DoDEA schools, and lower in 2005 in four states. The percentage of students performing at or above Proficient increased between 1996 and 2005 in nine states and the DoDEA schools, and decreased in one state.
Trend in percentage of eighth-grade students at or above Proficient in NAEP science, by state
State/jurisdiction 19961 20001 2000 2005
     Nation (public) 27   30 * 29   27
Alabama 18 22 23 19
Alaska 31
Arizona 23 24 * 23 20
Arkansas 22 23 22 23
California 20   15   14 * 18
Colorado 32 35
Connecticut 36 35 35 33
Delaware 21 * 29
Florida 21 21
Georgia 21 * 23   23   25
Hawaii 15 15 14 15
Idaho 38 37 36
Illinois 30 29 27
Indiana 30 35 * 33 29
Iowa 36      
Kansas
Kentucky 23 * 29 28 31
Louisiana 13 * 18 18 19
Maine 41 * 37 35 34
Maryland 25   28   27   26
Massachusetts 37 42 39 41
Michigan 32 37 35 35
Minnesota 37 42 41 39
Mississippi 12 15 15 14
Missouri 28 * 36   33   33
Montana 41 46 44 42
Nebraska 35 36 38
Nevada 23 * 22 19
New Hampshire 41
New Jersey       33
New Mexico 19 20 20 18
New York 27 30 28
North Carolina 24 27 * 25 22
North Dakota 41 40 38 * 43
Ohio   41 * 39   35
Oklahoma 26 25 25
Oregon 32 33 34 32
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island 26 29 27 26
South Carolina 17 * 20   20   23
South Dakota 41
Tennessee 22 25 24 25
Texas 23 23 23 23
Utah 32 34 34 33
Vermont 34 * 40   39   41
Virginia 27 * 31 29 * 35
Washington 27 * 33
West Virginia 21 26 24 23
Wisconsin 39 39
Wyoming 34   36   34 * 37
Other jurisdictions
   District of Columbia 5
   DoDEA3 30 * 37   36   38
—  Not available. The jurisdiction did not participate.
‡ Reporting standards not met. 
* Significantly different from 2005 when only one jurisdiction or the nation is being examined.
1 Accommodations were not permitted for this assessment.
2 The District of Columbia did not participate in the 2005 science assessment due to an insufficient sample size.
3 Department of Defense Education Activity. Before 2005, DoDEA overseas and domestic schools were separate jurisdictions in NAEP. For this table, 2000 data were recalculated for comparability. 

Learn more about the science assessment and achievement levels on the NAEP website. More information about state performance is available in the State Profiles tool.

Find out which states participated in the 2005 science assessment.

View information about the percentage of students with disabilities and English language learners identified, excluded, and assessed at the state level.

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