Spotlight on the Nation provides achievement results for public and non-public school students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades.

• 3 percent of the nation's 4th, 8th, and 12th graders reached the Advanced level
• 26 percent of 4th and 8th graders and 18 percent of 12th graders performed at the Proficient level
• 38 percent of 4th graders; 32 percent of 8th graders; and 36 percent of 12th graders performed at the Basic level
• Grade 4: greater percentages of males than females were at or above the Proficient level. Grade 8: approximately the same percentage of males and females reached each achievement level. Grade 12: males performed better than females at all three achievement levels.
  
  

  Race/Ethnicity
  Percentage attaining science achievement levels by race/ethnicity
  	Advanced	Proficient	Basic	Below Basic
  Grade 4
  All Students	3	26	38	33
  White	4	33	42	21
  Black	0	7	27	66
  Hispanic	0	9	33	58
  Asian / Pacific Islander	4	25	37	34
  American Indian	2	24	33	41
  NAGB
  Grade 8
  All Students	3	26	32	39
  White	4	33	36	27
  Black	0	5	19	76
  Hispanic	0	11	25	64
  Asian / Pacific Islander	3	27	32	38
  American Indian	2	22	36	40
  NAGB
  Grade 12
  All Students	3	18	36	43
  White	3	24	41	32
  Black	0	4	19	77
  Hispanic	1	6	26	67
  Asian / Pacific Islander	3	19	34	44
  American Indian	0	10	42	48
  SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics, National Assesment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1996 Science Assesment

  
  
  
  

  Gender
  Percentage attaining science achievement levels by gender
  	Advanced	Proficient	Basic	Below Basic
  Grade 4
  All Students	3	26	38	33
  Male	3	28	37	32
  Female	3	24	40	33
  -
  Grade 8
  All Students	3	26	32	39
  Male	4	27	31	38
  Female	3	24	34	39
  -
  Grade 12
  All Students	3	18	36	43
  Male	4	21	35	40
  Female	1	16	38	45
  SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics, National Assesment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1996 Science Assesment