Enjoyment of science is down amongst some eighth graders

“These data clearly underscore ongoing struggles for eighth graders who are now high school sophomores,” Matthew Soldner, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said.

This parallels a trend in math and reading scores for fourth and eighth graders, released in January, which showed steep post-pandemic drops. 

The National Center for Education Statistics also issued results for 12th grade mathematics and reading on Tuesday, showing that both are historic lows. These scores aim to demonstration the preparation of high school graduates, but there is speculation that rising numbers of high school graduates could deflate those numbers. Soldner said this isn’t something NCES has investigated, but hopes other researchers will.

The science test scores did not contain state-level data that would paint a picture of how California is faring compared to the rest of the country. However, the percentage of students who met or exceeded the standards for science on the California Science Test nudged up less than 1 point overall between 2018 and 2019, the first year the test was given, and 2023 to 2024. 

CAST, which tests students in fifth, eighth and 10th through 12th grades, showed a stark contrast between students from different economic backgrounds. In 2023-24, 49% of students who were not low income were proficient in science — that’s more than twice the scores of low-income students — 21% — a gap that didn’t change from 2018-19.

The last time the National Center for Education Statistics had state-level data for science was in 2015. Soldner said the agency plans to release state-level assessments in 2028. But there have been concerns about the future of education data since President Donald Trump dismissed NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr, two years before her term was set to expire.

Approximately 23,000 eighth grade students at 600 schools took the eighth grade science test, which covered physical science, life science, as well as Earth and space sciences. Less than a third (31%) of eighth grade students scored at or above “proficient,” while more than a third scored below “basic.” A student who scores below “basic” would likely not know that plants need sunlight to grow and reproduce.

There was also a survey whose results demonstrate that students are less interested in science and are less likely to look forward to science classes.

The number of students saying they enjoy science activities dropped from 52% to 42% between 2019 and 2024. The percentage of students saying they are interested in what they learn in science class has dropped from 47% to 39%. Students are also less likely to say that making an effort in science class is worthwhile or that science matters outside of school.

Science has faced unique challenges in the wake of the pandemic, according to Jessica Sawko, director of education at Children Now, an advocacy organization. The subject is generally viewed as more hands-on and experiential, but that kind of experience was hard to replicate during the years of remote learning. And when students returned, sharing lab equipment — often a budget necessity — remained taboo. 

Other core subjects didn’t face those same constraints, Sawko said. She said that science took a back burner to reading and math for many students in California.

“There was so much focus on getting kids ‘caught up’ that the time to be able to do robust and meaningful science was further diminished,” she said. “That type of teaching takes time, and it takes support.”

Science scores dropped across the board nationally, but girls’ test scores dropped more precipitously than boys’. Girls dropped 5 points between 2019 and 2024, while boys dropped 3 points on the 300-point scale.

“There has historically been a gap, and that gap had closed in 2019,” Soldner said. “We noted again this year in 2024 that that gap has reemerged as being statistically significant.”

The gender gap in math also reopened during the pandemic. The gap reopening in science points to girls falling behind broadly in STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math.

Almost every single racial and ethnic group measured has lost ground since the pandemic, with one exception. Asian American students gained 2 points, raising their score to 170, making them the only group with a proficient score. White students were the only other group above basic at 161 points. Hispanic students scored 137, American Indian/Alaska Native students scored 132, and Black students scored 130 — all below 141, which is considered basic.

The gap between higher-performing students and lower-performing students has widened since 2009. Students scoring in the 25th percentile have gone down 2 points, while students in the 75th percentile have gone up 1 point on the test.

EdSource, an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1977, is dedicated to providing analysis on key education issues facing the state and nation. Go to edsource.org to learn more.