Mississippi students showed significant increases in 4th and 8th grade science on the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which ranks the state No. 4 in the nation for growth in both grades since 2009.
Mississippi is one of 18 states that showed significant score gain in 4th grade science from 2009 to 2015. For 8th grade science, Mississippi is one of 24 states that showed significant score gain from 2009 to 2015.
“Our students’ growth in science is consistent with their achievements in NAEP reading and math,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “We are leading the nation for student growth because of our schools’ commitment to high academic standards and the hard work of students, teachers and school leaders.”
Mississippi was the only state in the nation to show significant gains in 2015 for NAEP 4th grade reading and math.
Statewide, 4th grade NAEP science proficiency increased from 17 percent in 2009 to 23 percent in 2015, which ranks Mississippi No. 12 in the nation for growth of students proficient and above.
In 8th grade, science proficiency increased from 15 percent in 2009 to 20 percent in 2015, which ranks Mississippi No. 13 in the nation for growth of students proficient and above.
Mississippi is tied for No. 2 in the nation for significant gains on NAEP tests in reading, math and science. Though test scores are increasing, Mississippi remains in the bottom tier for each tested subject and grade. In addition, the achievement gap that exists between African-American and white students and economically disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers remains in Mississippi as it does in the nation as a whole.
Read more about Mississippi’s gains in NAEP Science.
Learn more about the 2015 NAEP Science results.
Learn more about NAEP at nationsreportcard.gov