Science and Engineering Indicators 2014

Map

U.S. map and list of abbreviation

Findings

• In 2011, the nationwide average mathematics score of eighth grade public school students was 283, an increase from 276 in 2003. Eighth graders scored higher in mathematics in 2011 than in any previous assessment year.
• Of the 51 jurisdictions that participated in both the 2003 and 2011 mathematics assessments, 46 showed increases in mathematics scores among public school eighth graders over the period. Since 2007, eighth grade mathematics scores showed an increase for public school students in 28 states.
• Nationally, the 2011 average mathematics score for white public school eighth grade students was 293 compared to 262 for black students, a gap of 31 points, and 269 for Hispanic students, a gap of 24 points, based upon racial classifications provided by the schools. In 2003, these score gaps were 35 and 29 points, respectively.

Description

This indicator represents each state’s average score on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics for its eighth grade students in public schools. The NAEP mathematics assessment, conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, is part of a legally mandated federal effort to measure student performance. It measures students’ knowledge and skills in mathematics and their ability to apply that knowledge in the content areas of number properties and operations; measurement; geometry; data analysis, statistics, and probability; and algebra. Student performance is presented in terms of average scores on a scale from 0 to 500.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in the 2011 NAEP mathematics assessment. Students with disabilities or limited English-language proficiency are allowed to use certain accommodations (e.g., extra testing time or individual rather than group administration). All data presented here represent scores from tests taken with accommodations offered. For additional details on NAEP scores by gender and race/ethnicity, see appendix tables 8-1 to 8-12.

Data Table

Source Data

State Data Tool

The state data tool allows interactive exploration of the 58 indicators in this chapter. Users have the ability to choose and explore a single indicator in-depth, compare multiple indicators for preselected groups, customize their own graphics, or download data tables. Click the button below to get started.