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One-quarter of high school students fail new statewide science test
By Tracy Jan, Globe Staff
About a quarter of Massachusetts high school students who took state exams in biology, chemistry, physics, and technology and engineering in the spring flunked the tests, highlighting a need for improved science education, state officials said.
Twenty-six percent of the students failed, with rates ranging from 22 percent on the physics exam to 39 percent in chemistry, according to data released by the Massachusetts Department of Education today in the first measure of high school students’ competency in individual science subjects.
Beginning with the class of 2010 (students currently in 10th grade), students must pass at least one of the four tests in order to get their diplomas.
"We have to significantly improve the quality of science education if we are to achieve our goal of proficiency," Board of Education chairman Paul Reville said in a statement.
"The 2007 results show that we are still a ways from our goal of all students performing proficiently in science and technology/engineering," Acting Education Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus said.
But Nellhaus also said that once high stakes are attached to an exam, educators, parents, and students "take them much more seriously, do more to prepare in advance, and ultimately rise to the occasion."
Officials said they were particularly concerned about the scores in the state's large urban communitiies. Sixty high schools -- most of them in urban areas -- had passing rates of less than 50 percent on at least one of the exams.
More than 100,000 students participated in the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) tests this spring, including 38,741 ninth-graders and 63,068 10th-graders.
The 31,553 ninth-graders who passed one of the tests won't have to take the test again. All other students currently in the 10th grade will have to try again this spring.
Students are already required to pass the English and math MCAS tests in order to get their diplomas.
To try some sample questions from the test, click here.
