Minority students and science proficiency

The results of a national exam show a stark achievement gap, with only 10% of black students proficient in science in the fourth grade, compared to 46% of whites. At the high school level, results were even more bleak, with 71% of black students scoring below the basic knowledge level, and just 4% proficient. Fifty-eight percent of Hispanic 12th-grade students scored below basic, as did 21% of whites. Minority students are one of the fastest growing parts of the youth population. The achievement gap was also more notable in certain states. In Mississippi, for example, 68% of black fourth grade students scored below basic, and just 4% were proficient.