Top Mathematics Story for Grade 12: Mathematics scores up since 2005 at grade 12
Overall, average mathematics scores for twelfth-graders improved since 2005. In addition, for the first time, state-level grade 12 mathematics results are available. Eleven states participated in the pilot state assessment. The results of the assessment are available in a combined 2009 Grade 12 Mathematics and Reading Report Card.
... by examining the overall state performance versus the nation, and viewing results by type of school location and size of school.
Overall Results
In the 2009 grade 12 mathematics assessment, students in 6 of the 11 states scored higher than the national average.
Type of school location: City schools
The percentage of students attending city schools ranged from 12 percent in New Jersey to 30 percent in Idaho. In 2 of the 11 states, students who attended city schools scored higher than their peers attending city schools in the nation.
Type of school location: Suburban schools
The percentage of students attending suburban schools ranged from less than 1 percent in South Dakota to 78 percent in New Jersey. In 2 of the 11 states, students who attended suburban schools scored higher than their peers attending suburban schools in the nation.
Type of school location: Rural schools
The percentage of students attending rural schools ranged from 9 percent in New Jersey to 46 percent in West Virginia. In 6 of the 11 states, students who attended rural schools scored higher than their peers attending rural schools in the nation.
Size of school: Schools with fewer than 1000 students
The percentage of twelfth-graders attending schools with fewer than 1000 students ranged from 10 percent in Florida to 70 percent in Arkansas. In 4 of the 11 states, twelfth-graders who attended schools with fewer than 1000 students scored higher than their peers in the nation.
Size of school: Schools with more than 1500 students
The percentage of twelfth-graders attending schools with more than 1500 students ranged from 14 percent in Iowa to 80 percent in Florida. In 5 of the 11 states, twelfth-graders who attended schools with more than 1500 students scored higher than their peers in the nation.
Top Mathematics Story for Grades 4 and 8: Mathematics scores up since 2007 at grade 8, but unchanged at grade 4
While still higher than the scores in the six assessment years from 1990 to 2005, the overall average score for fourth-graders in 2009 was unchanged from the score in 2007. The upward trend seen in earlier assessments for eighth-graders continued with a 2-point increase from 2007 to 2009.
The Proficient level has been set as the goal for student performance by the National Assessment Governing Board. Dig deeper into the trends of student performance at the Proficient level by viewing the series of charts below.
Overall, the percentage of fourth-graders in the nation performing at Proficient in mathematics has doubled since 1990, the first year the mathematics assessment was administered.
Higher percentages of fourth-grade Black and Hispanic students are at Proficient in 2009 than in 1990, while significantly lower percentages are Below Basic.
As in grade 4, the percentage difference between White and Black and between White and Hispanic eighth-graders at Proficient has not been reduced in 2009.
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Accommodations were not permitted in the mathematics assessments in 1990 and 1992. Black includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, Pacific Islander includes Native Hawaiian, and American Indian includes Alaska Native. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin.
Top Mathematics Story for Urban Districts: Scores for most districts higher than in 2003, but few made gains since 2007
In comparison to 2003, scores were higher in 2009 for students in large cities and in most participating districts at both grades. Average scores for students in large cities were higher in 2009 than in 2007 at both grades 4 and 8; however, only two participating districts at each grade showed gains.
With 18 participating urban districts and results spanning various years, there is plenty of mathematics district-level data to explore. Use this data visualization tool to find out how districts compare and how performance over time changes for students by family income and race/ethnicity.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1990 - 2009 Mathematics Assessments.
Explore the 2009 Grade 12 Reading and Mathematics Report Card
Explore the 2009 Grade 12 Reading and Mathematics Report Card