S.C. math scores down slightly

South Carolina students' scores on a national math test are down slightly compared with students who took the test two years ago, but remain near the national average.

Math scores from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress were released Wednesday. The test also is known as the nation's report card because it's the only test that allows states to compare students' results in core academic subjects with other states and the entire nation. The federal No Child Left Behind law requires states that receive money for low-income students to give the test.

The test, which was last given in 2007, evaluates the performance of only fourth- and eighth- graders. The mathematics assessment was administered to nationally representative samples totaling 330,000 students.

In 2009, South Carolina fourth-graders scored, on average, 236 on a 500-point scale, down one point from 237 in 2007. Eighth-graders scored, on average, 280 this year, down 2 points from 282 in 2007. Officials from national groups and federal agencies connected to the test said that South Carolina is one of 30 states with results that demonstrated no significant change between 2007 and 2009.

The state's fourth-graders scored 3 points below the national average of 239; and eighth-graders fell 2 points below the national average of 282.

Jim Rex, state superintendent of education said in a news release, "NAEP continues to show South Carolina in the middle of the pack compared to other states." And, he added, "if we want to be competitive as a state, we've got to do better. We have to accelerate the pace of improvement."

Nationally, eighth-grade math scores continued the steady climb seen since the test was launched in 1992. Fourth-grade scores, however, plateaued for the first time since 1992.

Although South Carolina's averages remain near the national average, the state's students continue to rank in the bottom half of the 50 states.

The state's fourth-grade scores were lower than those in 33 other states and jurisdictions. Eighth-grade scores were lower than those in 30 other states and jurisdictions.

The state Department of Education noted other data from the test in a news release:

--Low-income fourth-graders' scores averaged 226, the same as 2005. Low-income eighth-graders' scores dropped 1 point to 268.

--The gap between low-income fourth-graders and other students this year was 22 points, down from 23 points in 2007. The gap between low-income and other eighth-graders was 26 points this year, up from 25 points in 2007.

--The gap between black and white fourth-graders was 25 points, down 1 point from 26 in 2007. The gap between black and white eighth-graders was 29 points this year, up 2 points from 27 in 2007.