This is the first year the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the "Nation's Report Card," has focused on science skills in large urban districts. On a scale of 300, Cleveland 4th graders scored 128 - just ahead of Chicago and Los Angeles. The national average is 149. Eighth graders in Cleveland scored 122 - compared to the national average of 147.
Michael Casserly, Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools, says such low scores across the board - and especially among urban kids - is worrisome.
Michael Casserly: These results, and the earlier results on the national science test, suggest that the country has to get itself serious about science or we're just not going to get the job done as a country.
Casserly says there is one bright spot for Cleveland. In a district where 100% of kids qualify for the federal school lunch program, the scores are comparable to other urban district where a smaller percentage of impoverished students. Bill Rice, 90.3.