Florida’s NAEP Science Student Achievement by Race, Ethnicity, and Level, Grade 4
In Florida, the percentage of fourth grade White students achieving at the Basic level was 83, compared to 62 percent of Hispanics, and 39 percent of Black students. The percentage of White students scoring at the Proficient level was 38, compared to 17 percent of Hispanics, and 7 percent of Black students. White students scoring at the Basic level were 21 percentage points higher than Hispanics and 44 percentage points higher than Black students. Additionally, fourth grade White students scored higher than Hispanics at the Proficient level by 21 percentage points and Black students by 31 percentage points on NAEP* science in 2005.
*NAEP 2005 science achievement was scored on a scale of 0 to 300 for fourth graders. Students scoring 137 and lower were considered achieving below basic understanding in science, 138-169 had Basic level of achievement, those scoring 170-204 were Proficient, and Advanced students scored 205 or greater.
