Another year, another dismal performance on statewide science assessments here in Florida. Depending on grade level, students either took the science FCAT or Biology End of Course exam. Here’s the results compared to previous years’:
Biology End of Course
State Percentage Passing (Level 3 or Above)
Spring 2014-2015: 65
Spring 2013-2014: 68
Spring 2012-2013: 67
Spring 2011-2012: 59
5th Grade Science FCAT
State Percentage Passing (Level 3 or Above)
2015: 53
2014: 54
2013: 53
2012: 52
8th Grade Science FCAT
State Percentage Passing (Level 3 or Above)
2015: 48
2014: 49
2013: 47
2012: 47
Take a look at those 8th grade numbers. They mean that for four years running more than half of the students failed the exam every year. Take a look even further back in this blog’s FCAT post archives and you’ll see that the situation has been the same since at least 2008. And you know what? No one will pay any attention. Newspaper stories will barely mention the stagnant science scores and won’t mention how long the trend has lasted. We definitely won’t hear a peep about this from politicians. Anyone care to bet on it?
No Brandon, not me. Now that I’m attached to a State University I hear from many of the other biology teachers just how poorly educated our students are.