Florida Students Outshine Students in Large Mega-States
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Florida Students Outshine Students in Large Mega-States
Tallahassee, Fla., February 21, 2013 - Florida fourth- and eighth-grade students outperformed their peers in reading and mathematics according to a new National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report that analyzed student performance over two decades in the five most heavily-populated states in the country. The study compares Florida with California, Texas, New York, and Illinois, as well as with the nation. Florida has made some of the greatest learning gains in both mathematics and reading, especially when compared to the other large states.
"These learning gains demonstrate Florida's teachers and principals are doing an increasingly better job of educating our children, particularly those student populations that have been underserved in the past," said Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett. "They also confirm there is still work to do. Florida must continue to be data-driven as we work to support teachers in developing the next set of solutions."
Florida gained 16 points on the grade four NAEP reading scale score from 1992 to 2011, leading all the other Mega-States and the nation. Florida eighth graders also fared well in reading, increasing 8 points from 1998 to 2011 and highest of the Mega-States.
Average reading score changes for fourth-grade public school students between 1992 and 2011 | |
---|---|
State | Scale Score Change |
Florida | 16 |
California | 9 |
New York | 8 |
Texas | 6 |
Nation | 5 |
Illinois* | 3 |
Average reading score changes for eighth-grade public school students between 1998 and 2011 | |
---|---|
State | Scale Score Change |
Florida | 8 |
California | 3 |
Nation | 3 |
New York | 1 |
Texas | 0 |
Illinois* | -1 |
Florida fourth graders picked up steam in mathematics as well with a 26-point gain from 1992-2011, while the national average rose 22 points. Florida's 23-point increase in eighth-grade math was above the national average, second to Texas and tied statistically with Illinois and New York.
Average mathematics score changes for fourth-grade public school students between 1992 and 2011 | |
---|---|
State | Scale Score Change |
Florida | 26 |
California | 26 |
Texas | 23 |
Nation | 22 |
New York | 19 |
Illinois* | 16 |
Average mathematics score changes for eighth-grade public school students between 1990 and 2011 | |
---|---|
State | Scale Score Change |
Texas | 32 |
Florida | 23 |
Illinois* | 23 |
Nation | 21 |
New York | 20 |
California | 16 |
Florida's fourth-grade Hispanic students scored at or above Proficient on NAEP reading in 2011, the highest percentage of the five Mega-States.
![graph shows the percentage of fourth-grade public school students at or above proficient in NAEP reading 2011 which are as followsWhite students42 Nation40 California48 Florida45 Illinois45 New York45 TexasBlack students16 Nation19 California17 Florida12 Illinois18 New York18 TexasHispanic students18Nation12 California30 Florida18 Illinois20 New York19 Texas](/core/fileparse.php/3/urlt/2-21graph1.jpg)
Additionally, 27 percent of Florida eighth-grade Hispanic students scored at or above Proficient in NAEP reading, higher than the national average of 18 percent.
![graph shows the percentage of eight-grade public school students at or above proficient in NAEP reading 2011 which are as follows White students41 Nation35 California38 Florida44 Illinois46 New York42 TexasBlack students14 Nation11 California14 Florida15 Illinois18 New York15 TexasHispanic students18 Nation14 California27 Florida23 Illinois20 New York17 Texas](/core/fileparse.php/3/urlt/2-21graph2.jpg)
The NAEP report on the five Mega-States looked at proficiency in science in addition to reading and mathematics, but science performance information is not available for the same time period as it is for reading and mathematics. The NAEP science test was given to fourth graders in 2009 and eighth graders in 2009 and 2011. In 2009, Florida's fourth graders had a higher scale score than the nation and the other Mega-States. In 2011, 26 percent of Florida's eighth-grade science students in city schools scored at or above Proficient; only Texas was higher. Florida's Hispanic eighth graders scored higher than other eighth graders in science as well, with 24 percent of students scoring at or above Proficient.
All of this progress has taken place in a state that is defined by its cultural and socioeconomic diversity. Florida schools serve the third-largest population of English language learners in the nation. In 2010, more than one-third of the nation's public school students attended school in the Mega-States, which now serve more than half of the nation's English language learners, as well as some of the largest concentrations of children from lower-income families.
Florida also has the highest percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price school lunches of the five Mega-States. As policymakers and educators look at the nation's changing demographics and explore ways to close achievement gaps, the educational progress of children in these five states is of interest far beyond their state borders.
For more information about Florida's performance in the NAEP Mega-States report, visit www.nationsreportcard.gov.
*Illinois did not participate or did not meet the minimum participation guidelines or reporting at the state level prior to 2003
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