Florida’s NAEP Science Student Achievement by Race, Ethnicity, and Level, Grade 8
In Florida, the percentage of eighth grade White students achieving at the Basic level was 68, compared to 38 percent of Hispanics, and 24 percent of Black students. The percentage of White students scoring at the Proficient level was 32, compared to 14 percent of Hispanics, and 6 percent of Black students. White students scoring at the Basic level were 30 percentage points higher than Hispanics and 44 percentage points higher than Black students. Additionally, eighth grade White students scored higher than Hispanics at the Proficient level by 18 percentage points and Black students by 26 percentage points on NAEP* science in 2005.
*NAEP 2005 science achievement was scored on a scale of 0 to 300 for eighth graders. Students scoring 142 and lower were considered achieving below basic understanding in science, 143-169 had Basic level of achievement, those scoring 170-207 were Proficient, and Advanced students scored 208 or greater.
