South Carolina was among 14 states to show significant score increases on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science test. The NAEP science test was administered to approximately 4600 4th and 8th grade students in the spring of 2015. 

"Our elementary and middle school student’s performance above the national average on the NAEP science assessment is a true testament to the hard work and emphasis on learning our teachers and schools put in every day to ensure student academic success,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman.

“I commend all of our students, parents, and educators for this success and look forward to replicating it in years to come across all of our subject areas,” concluded Spearman.

The NAEP results, commonly referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, are the gold standard of large scale student assessments. Nationally, 115,400 4th grade students and 110,900 8th graders participated in the spring 2015 NAEP science assessment. The assessment was also given to 11,000 12th grade students but those results are not reported out on the state level.

Scores on the NAEP science test are reported on a 300-point scale and as percentages in achievement levels: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. The average score for 4th-grade students in South Carolina in 2015 (155) was six points higher than their average in 2009 (149) and was two points higher than the 2015 national average (153). During the same time period, South Carolina 8th grade students gained 8 scale score points, 143 to 151.  

South Carolina African-American 4th graders had an average scale score of 135 in 2015, this is a 7-point increase since 2009 (128). African-American 8th graders also had a 7-point increase since 2009 (131 to 124). The national average for this group in 2015 was 131.

South Carolina 4th-grade English language learners (ELL) performed 26 points higher than the national average for the same group (147 to 121). In the 8th grade, South Carolina ELLs also scored 26 points higher than the national average (136 to 110). 

In South Carolina, 76 percent of 4th graders scored at or above basic, a four point increase since 2009 (72 percent). South Carolina 8th graders performing at or above the basic level were 65 percent, a 10 percent increase since 2009 (10 percent). Nationally, 75 percent of 4th graders and 67 percent of 8th graders scored at or above basic in 2015. 

40 percent of our state’s 4th-grade students performed at or above proficient in 2015, 7 points higher than in 2009 (33 percent). Thirty-one percent of 8th graders scored at or above proficient in 2015, 8 points higher than in 2009 (23 percent). Nationally, 37 percent of 4th graders and 33 percent of 8th graders scored at or above proficient in 2015.