How proficient are U.S. 8^th graders in math and science?

Just over one-third (35%) of 8^th grade students performed at or above the proficient level on the NAEP math assessment in 2013.

Approximately one-third (32%) of 8^th grade students scored at or above the proficient level on the NAEP science assessment in 2011.

• Performance on the math assessment was nearly equal for 8^th grade males and females, with a slightly higher percentage of males (10%) than females (8%) scoring at the advanced level in 2013.
• Over half of Asians/Pacific Islanders (60%) scored at or above the proficient level in math, while 45% of whites scored in this range; fewer (14%-21%) 8th grade black, Hispanic, or American Indian/Alaska Native students scored at or above the proficient level in math.
• One-fourth (25%) of 8^th grade Asian/Pacific Islander students scored at the advanced level in math in 2013.

• A somewhat higher percentage of males (35%) than females (28%) scored at or above the proficient level in science in 8^th grade.
• Over 40% of whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders scored at or above the proficient level in science; fewer (10%–20%) black, Hispanic, or American Indian/Alaska Native 8^th grade students scored in this range.
• Few students from any group scored at the advanced level in science in 8^th grade.