How proficient are U.S. 4^th graders in math and science?

42% of 4^th grade students performed at or above the proficient level on the NAEP math assessment in 2013.

34% of 4^th grade students performed at or above the proficient level on the NAEP science assessment in 2009.

• A slightly higher percentage of males (43%) than females (41%) scored at or above the proficient level in math in 4^th grade.
• Over half of whites (54%) and nearly 2/3 of Asians/Pacific Islanders (64%) scored at or above the proficient level in math, far outperforming other racial and ethnic groups.
• There was a large gap between the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander students (22%) and the percentages of black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students (between 1% and 3%) scoring at the advanced level in math.

• A slightly higher percentage of males (35%) than females (32%) scored at or above the proficient level in science in 4^th grade.
• Nearly half of whites (47%) and 45% of Asians/Pacific Islanders scored at or above the proficient level in science in 4^th grade in 2009, while fewer students from the other racial and ethnic groups scored as high.
• Few students from any group scored at the advanced level in science in 4^th grade.