Proficiency Levels

Some shifts from lower to higher levels of proficiency are apparent when examining the percentage of students reaching each level of proficiency. (See appendix tables 1-10, 1-11, 1-12, and 1-13.) In mathematics, 13- and 17-year-old black students have experienced the largest shifts from accomplishing the basic mathematics tasks to accomplishing more intermediate tasks. The percentage of 13-year-old black students who can use multiplication and division to solve problems (level 250) increased from 26 percent in 1978 to 45 percent in 1990, and the number of 17-year-olds who can do the same increased by 5 percent. In addition, 15 percent more 17-year-old black students demonstrated proficiency in the use of decimals, fractions, percents, geometric figures, and graphs (level 300) compared to 6 percent more white students. The number of 13-year-old white and Hispanic students who can use multiplication and division to solve problems (level 250) increased by 10 and 18 points, respectively.

Reflecting the trends of the overall population, shifts in science were minimal at age 17. Slightly more black students were able to apply and interpret general scientific information (level 250); white and Hispanic students experienced no shifts. The percentages of Hispanic and black students who have the scientific knowledge to integrate scientific information and draw conclusions (level 350) remained low. At age 13, the shifts to higher levels of achievement were more pronounced: Each racial/ethnic group had a real shift in the percentage of students who could understand and apply general information from life and physical sciences (level 250).

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