Oklahoma Science Scores Remain Steady Since 2000

OKLAHOMA (AP) -- A federal report being released today says Oklahoma fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders scored close to the national average on 2005 science test scores.<br/><br/>33 percent of Oklahoma

Wednesday, May 24th 2006, 2:13 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA (AP) -- A federal report being released today says Oklahoma fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders scored close to the national average on 2005 science test scores.

33 percent of Oklahoma fourth graders scored below a basic achievement level, 42 percent scored at the basic level, 24 percent were proficient level and one percent advanced.

For eighth-graders 43 percent were below basic achievement, 32 percent scored at the basic level, 23 percent proficient, and two percent scored advanced.

High school seniors scores aren't tabulated on a state-by-state basis.

Nationwide the scores of fourth-graders are up from tests in 2000 and 1996 while the scores of eighth-graders are about the same and the scores of seniors have dropped since '96.

Oklahoma Schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett did not immediately return telephone calls about the report.

Oklahoma male students scored an average five points higher than females. Black students scored an average 35 points lower than whites while Hispanic students were an average 24 points lower than whites.