Hawaiʻi Shows Improvement in Science in National Assessment

DOE School Closures.

The Nation’s Report Card: 2015 Science assessment, to be released today by the National Assessment Governing Board and the National Center for Education Statistics, shows Hawaiʻi’s fourth and eighth graders are making progress.

For grade 4, the average scale score of 146 was six points higher than the score of 140 in 2009. For grade 8, the average scale score of 144 was five points higher than the score of 139 in 2009.

The DOE reports that Hawaiʻi’s gains in science exceeded national gains, but Hawaiʻi’s scores remain currently lower than the average scale scores for national public schools, as are Hawaiʻi’s percentages of students achieving at or above proficient and at or above basic levels.

“These results validate the gains that we reported earlier this month as part of our Hawaiʻi Science assessments,” said Kathryn Matayoshi, HIDOE Superintendent.

“Now, with the recent adoption of Next Generation Science Standards, our schools are moving towards a more engaging approach to learning science where we expect the science instruction to connect with understanding the world around them and prepare them for community, career and college,” she said.

NAEP achievement levels are set by the National Assessment Governing Board. “Basic” indicates partial mastery of prerequisite grade-level knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work. “Proficient” represents competency over complex subject matter and may go beyond the grade level tested, and “Advanced” stands for superior performance.