New Hampshire Students Score at the Top on the National Assessment of Educational Progress Science Assessment

As with the release of Grades 4 and 8 Mathematics and Reading results for the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as “the Nation’s Report Card,” administered in the winter of 2015, New Hampshire students demonstrated their proficiency in the subject of Science. Along with Virginia, Vermont and Department of Defense students, New Hampshire grade 4 students, on average, continue to have the highest performance compared to grade 4 students in all other states and jurisdictions throughout the nation on the NAEP Science assessment. For grade 8, New Hampshire students shared the top spot with Utah, Vermont and Department of Defense students. “I am encouraged by the impressive results of the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress and proud to see Granite State students, particularly those who experience disabilities, leading the nation in the important subject of science,” Governor Maggie Hassan commented. “These results remind us that in order to ensure that our young people are prepared to compete for jobs in the 21st century innovation economy, we must continue working together to equip them with the necessary skills and innovative thinking for such jobs, including modernizing education in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.”

New Hampshire students saw Average Scale Score and At-or-Above Proficient improve in 2015 compared to the previous NAEP assessments in 2011 and 2009. For grade 4, there was a scale score increase of two points from 163 to 165 and a four-percent increase in the percentage of New Hampshire students reaching an achievement level of at-or-above proficient compared to the 2009 NAEP Science assessment. For grade 8, New Hampshire students saw a significant average scale score increase in Science, improving from 162 in 2011 to 165 in 2015, with a four percentage point increase in students achieving at-or-above proficient. The achievement of New Hampshire students with a disability was also commendable. For grade 4, New Hampshire students with a disability shared the highest proficiency achievement with Massachusetts, Kentucky and Department of Defense students while grade 8 New Hampshire students with a disability had higher achievement than all participating states throughout the nation. “These assessment results are further affirmation that New Hampshire schools, our students, our parents and especially our teachers are dedicated to the excellence in education we continue to promote,” New Hampshire Commissioner of Education Virginia Barry added. “Most notable is the success demonstrated by our students with a disability. Having the highest level of proficiency of all states is evidence of our state’s dedication to all children.” For complete NAEP 2015 Science sub-group results and trend analysis, visit the NH Department of Education NAEP webpage. (link no longer active)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is conducted at both the state and the national level. For both grades, 4 and 8, the Scale Scores were set ranging from 0 to 300. With respect to achievement levels for the assessment, the Proficient level represents solid academic performance with a demonstration of competency of challenging subject matter. For the NAEP 2015 Science assessment, nearly 111,000 grade 4 students and 107,000 grade 8 students were assessed nationwide. In New Hampshire, approximately 2,200 grade 4 students and 2,300 grade 8 students were assessed. The New Hampshire students selected from both grades resembled the actual demographics of the entire New Hampshire student population for both grades.

For questions regarding New Hampshire’s NAEP 2015 Science results, contact Tim Eccleston, New Hampshire’s NAEP Program Administrator at (603) 271-2298 or Timothy.Eccleston@doe.nh.gov. Additional NAEP information can be found at the Nation’s Report Card website.