02:48 PM CDT on Thursday, May 25, 2006

By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – Texas' fourth-graders got mostly positive marks on the latest national science test. Eighth-graders, however, scored near the bottom of their class.

The federal government on Wednesday released results for the National Assessment of Education Progress science exam, administered to a representative sample of 300,000 fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders in 44 states last year. State-by-state results were available only in grades 4 and 8. In Texas, more than 8,000 students were tested in each of the two grades.

The results: Black, Hispanic and white fourth-graders in Texas outscored their peers on the test, which was graded on a 300-point scale. And, overall, fourth-graders scored an average of 150 on the test, a point above the national average. That ranked 26th among 44 states.

But when broken down by ethnic, racial and economic groups, Texas' fourth-graders came out ahead across the board and scored in the top tier of states. Black students from Texas registered an average score of 133 – five points above the national average for blacks – and Hispanic students had an average 141 – nine points above the national average for Hispanics.

White students in Texas scored an average 165, four points above the national average for whites.

"Texas students stacked up well compared to their peers nationally," said state Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley. "This is very encouraging news. We want to build on the strong base found at fourth grade."

Texas' eighth-graders were not so impressive. They averaged a score of 143, about four points below the national average. That ranked the state 35th out of 44.

Blacks, Hispanics and whites scored slightly above the national averages for their peer groups – but testing experts said the differences were not statistically significant.

Dr. Neeley noted that recent actions related to science should help improve achievement levels of Texas students in the subject. For example, the state began testing eighth-graders in science on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills this year, a move that should bolster science instruction in middle and junior high schools.

In addition, the Legislature voted earlier this month to require an extra year of science – for a total of four years – for high school students to graduate. The requirement kicks in for incoming high school freshmen in the fall of 2007.

"Rather than having scores begin to dip in eighth grade, we want them to continue to climb," Dr. Neeley said. "We want more students to achieve at proficient and advanced levels on the NAEP and to excel in their science studies in general. The NAEP results show that we have room to improve our achievement in the area of science."

Students are grouped into four categories on the NAEP to indicate their competency in science: below basic, basic, proficient and advanced.

Among Texas fourth-graders, a third – or 34 percent – lacked basic skills in science. Nearly 41 percent possessed basic skills, and 23 percent were deemed proficient. Just 2 percent were at the highest level – advanced. Among eighth-graders, 47 percent lacked basic skills, and 29 percent demonstrated basic skills. Another 21 percent were proficient, and 2 percent were advanced.

An example of basic-level knowledge in grade 4 is identifying two organs in the human body that work together to supply oxygen. An example of basic-level knowledge in grade 8 is being able to compare changes in heart rate during and after exercise.

Nationwide, scores for fourth-graders improved from 2000. Scores for eighth- and 12th-graders saw no significant change.