South Carolina Receives Mixed Results on Nation’s Report Card
November 2, 2011
COLUMBIA, SC – November 1, 2011 – While South Carolina eighth gradersimproved their scores in reading and mathematics, fourth graders’performance in reading slightly declined and slightly improved inmathematics on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress(NAEP). Ranked by scale score, South Carolina is 39th in fourth gradereading (no change from 2009), 38th in eighth grade reading (improvementof 4 spots from 2009), 37th in fourth grade mathematics (improvement of1 spot from 2009), and 34th in eighth grade mathematics (decline of 1spot from 2009).
State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais said, “The Nation’s ReportCard provides an apples-to-apples comparison between states measuredover time. South Carolina is still behind most states in thefoundational subjects of reading and mathematics. For far too manystudents, the one-size-fits-all model of the current education systemisn’t meeting their needs. It’s time to transform the system to providea personalized and customized education for every student where masteryof reading and mathematics is the focus.”
“The state’s performance in fourth grade reading is especiallytroubling,” said Zais. “If students do not learn how to read inelementary school, they face enormous challenges and barriers throughoutthe rest of their education. We must emphasize reading because it isthe most important subject students need to master to be successful inschool.”
In reading, South Carolina’s fourth graders had an average score of 215in 2011, a decline of 1 point, compared to an average score of 216 in2009. The nation’s average score was 220 in 2011. South Carolina’seighth graders had average score 260, an increase of 3 points from 2009,while the national average score increased by 2 points to 264. Inmathematics, South Carolina’s fourth graders had an average score of237, an increase of 1 point, and the national average was 240. Eighthgraders’ mathematics scores increased 1 point to an average score of281, and the national average was 283.
Regarding achievement gaps, results were mixed. For the first timeon the NAEP assessment, South Carolina female students outperform SouthCarolina male students in each assessment. Decreases in achievementgaps are in bold type:
Fourth grade reading: the gap between white and African-American students increased by 1 point.
Fourth grade reading: the gap between white and Hispanic students decreased by 3 points.
Fourth grade reading: the gap between full pay and free/reduced lunch students increased by 4 points.
Fourth grade reading: the gap between males and females increased by 4 points.
Fourth grade mathematics: the gap between white and African-American students increased by 3 points.
Fourth grade mathematics: the gap between white and Hispanic students increased by 1 point.
Fourth grade mathematics: the gap between full pay and free/reduced lunch students increased by 2 points.
Fourth grade mathematics: the gap between males and females increased by 2 points.
Eighth grade reading: the gap between white and African-American students decreased by 1 point.
Eighth grade reading: the gap between white and Hispanic students increased by 4 points.
Eighth grade reading: the gap between full pay and free/reduced lunch students decreased by 2 points.
Eighth grade reading: the gap between males and females decreased by 3 points.
Eighth grade mathematics: the gap between white and African-American students did not change.
Eighth grade mathematics: the gap between white and Hispanic students decreased by 4 points.
Eighth grade mathematics: the gap between full pay and free/reduced lunch students increased by 1 point.
Eighth grade mathematics: the gap between males and females increased by 3 points.
In reading, South Carolina fourth graders performed about the same as orbetter than students in 15 of the 50 states and District of Columbia.South Carolina performed higher than five: Alaska, District of Columbia,Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Mexico. South Carolina fourth gradereading scores were not statistically different from 10 states: Arizona,Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee,Texas, and West Virginia.
In reading, South Carolina eighth graders scored about the same as orbetter than students in 18 of the 50 states and District of Columbia.South Carolina scored higher than eight: California, District ofColumbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia.Eighth-grade mathematics scores were not statistically different from11: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, NorthCarolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
In mathematics, South Carolina fourth graders performed about the sameas or better than students in 21 of the 50 states and District ofColumbia. South Carolina performed higher than seven: Alabama, Districtof Columbia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, and WestVirginia. South Carolina fourth-grade mathematics scores were notstatistically different from 14: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, NewYork, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
In mathematics, South Carolina eighth graders scored about the same asor better than students in 26 of the 50 states and District of Columbia.South Carolina scored higher than eleven: Alabama, California, Districtof Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, NewMexico, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Eighth grade mathematics scoreswere not statistically different from 15: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, NewYork, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Utah.
