Study: NC students competitive with global counterparts

Raleigh, N.C. — New test results show North Carolina students are outperforming their international peers when it comes to science and math.

The Tar Heel State took part last year in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, which looked at how fourth- and eighth-grade students measure up with those in more than 60 other countries and states.

Results released Tuesday show that, overall, students performed at or above the international benchmark set out in the assessment.

North Carolina was the only participating state in the country and one of only eight education systems across the world – including Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Northern Ireland – in which fourth-grade math students outscored the test average and U.S. national average.

At the eighth-grade level, North Carolina was among four states, including Massachusetts and Minnesota, and seven countries to score higher than both the TIMSS scale and national averages.

In science, the average scores among fourth- and eighth-grade students in the state exceeded the TIMSS scale average but not the U.S. national average.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson said the results offer proof that North Carolina students can be competitive when it comes to a global marketplace and workplace.

She attributes the test results to two early-childhood education and providing professional development for teachers.

"The fact that our scores were comparable to scores from countries such as Singapore is a tribute to the work under way to remodel public education in this state."

Nationally, students are performing better than the global average but still lag behind those in Asia and Europe.

The TIMSS test is used to measure knowledge, skills and mastery of curricula by elementary and middle school students around the world.

Students in rich, industrialized nations and poor, developing countries alike are tested.

In 2011, 56 educational systems — mostly countries, but some states and subnational entities such as Hong Kong — took part in math and science exams.

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Latest Comments

I think the results were "adjusted". I am a former teacher in NC and I am pretty sure this is exaggerated.

nitabitasmith
December 12, 2012 9:50 a.m.

"So, this means we DON'T have to spend more per pupil to get good results."

Or is it more likely that our scores will begin to drop as more teachers leave the profession. There is a lag effect. Funny thing is, is that you'd be saying the same thing if scores were bad-that we "shouldn't be throwing money at failed schools". Either way its obvious you just don't want to pay for education. Educational spending near the bottom of the nation speaks for itself.

Plenty Coups
December 11, 2012 5:24 p.m.

"The only difference is that the students in other countries are not permitted to retake a test- so how can you compare apples with oranges!! You can't!!"

This test is administered the same way in every country.

Plenty Coups
December 11, 2012 5:21 p.m.

How did we do this? Not even a year ago, the politicians and the media were painting a picture of gloom and doom and that we were falling behind. How indeed? Perhaps we weren't as bad as they thought?

tayled
December 11, 2012 5:19 p.m.

The TIMSS test is not the EOG's. The EOG's are the ones that students can retake if they are within the standard deviation of test itself. TIMSS can not be retaken. So one is not comparing apples to oranges. The TIMSS test is administered the same way consistently so that you can analyze the data.

scovert73
December 11, 2012 5:07 p.m.