Utah fourth-and eighth-graders scored above peers in most of the 44 states and territories involved in the 1992 national assessment of math.
Utah's fourth-grade scores averaged 223, compared with the national figure of 217, and placed Utah 12th among the 44 systems in which children were tested. At eighth grade, the Utah average was 274, compared with 266 nationally, and ranked the state eighth.The score differences are statistically significant, said David E. Nelson, director of assessment in the State Office of Education.
"We're thrilled with the results," said Steve Mecham, associate state superintendent.
Jay B. Taggart, former state superintendent and now education advisor to Gov. Mike Leavitt, also lauded the national results, the first in which Utah has participated.
Utah's good showing should dispel commonly held perceptions that Utah does not do well with math education and that its children are not being prepared to compete adequately in today's markets, he said.
Two years ago, Utah did not participate in the national tests because of the cost. The Legislature then mandated that the state office take part. Results of the first national testing in reading will be released this summer.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress program selected 193 Utah schools for the math comparison testing, based on statistics provided by the state office. The national program attempted to select representative schools to reflect the state's demographics, Nelson said.
The participation rate in Utah - nearly 95 percent of the students in the chosen schools - also was higher than the national average of 80-85 percent, making Utah's results even more impressive, he said.
Bonnie Morgan, state curriculum director, attributed the positive showing to three factors: development of a more rigorous math program as part of the state's core curriculum; continuing assessment of the core program; and better teacher training.
Utah's math programs are well aligned with those being developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, she said.
When the Utah scores were compared for gender and minority status, the results also were pleasing, Nelson said. Utah's Hispanic students scored better than peers in other states, and females also showed progress in an academic area that has long been more attractive to boys.
Math Specialist Bill Earl said several programs are addressing historic course-taking peculiarities that put women and minorities at a disadvantage.
"We need to dispel the myth that math is only for 30 percent of our society," he said. "Math is for everyone."
There was a downside to the scores released Thursday. Despite the good overall standings, Nelson said, 33 percent of Utah's fourth-graders and 28 percent of eighth-graders were below basic level achievement. The comparative national figures were 41 percent and 39 percent respectively. The indication is that those children who are doing well are doing very well, but many need to be brought up to the basic level.
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(Additional information)
Math scores
Overall average mathematics proficiency scores:
Grade 4 Grade 8
Utah 223 274
West 217 267
Nation 217 266
Utah's rank in nation 12th 8th