The results of the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress show Georgia’s students improving in fourth and eighth grade science, and nearing the national average in both grades. Georgia – along with Arizona, Department of Defense, and Tennessee – had the greatest gains in fourth-grade science scores since 2009.

Georgia’s fourth-grade students recorded an average scale score of 152 – not significantly different from the national average of 153. This score was eight points higher than Georgia fourth graders’ average score in 2009 (144).

The average score of Georgia’s eighth-grade students was also 152 – not significantly different from the national average of 153. This score was not significantly different from Georgia students’ average score in 2011 (151) but was five points higher than their average score in 2009 (147).

NAEP, or the “Nation’s Report Card,” is a nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas. The test is taken every two years by a selection of fourth and eighth graders from a sample of schools across the state.

“We are pleased to see these improvements on the NAEP, which is an important national measure of students’ academic achievement,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “There is certainly still work to be done, but we are steadily improving, and as we continue to have more child-focused, classroom-centered instruction, I believe those improvements will continue.”

Grade 4 Science Highlights:

• In 2015, the average score of fourth-grade students in Georgia was 152. This was not significantly different from the average score of 153 for public school students in the nation.

• The average score for students in Georgia in 2015 (152) was higher than their average score in 2009 (144).

• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 35 percent in 2015. This percentage was significantly greater than that in 2009 (27 percent).

• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 74 percent in 2015. This percentage was significantly greater than that in 2009 (66 percent).

• Significant changes since 2009 in Georgia were seen for White, Black, Hispanic, male, female, Free/reduced lunch students and students with disabilities.

Grade 8 Science Highlights:

•  In 2015, the average score of eighth-grade students in Georgia was 152. This was not significantly different from the average score of 153 for public school students in the nation.

•  The average score for students in Georgia in 2015 (152) was not significantly different from their average score in 2011 (151), but was significantly higher than their average score in 2009 (147).

•  The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 31 percent in 2015. This percentage was significantly greater than that in 2009 (27 percent).

• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above the NAEP Basic level was 65 percent in 2015. This percentage was significantly higher from that in 2009 (58 percent).

•  Significant changes since 2009 in Georgia were seen for Black, Hispanic, female and Free/reduced lunch students