To provide an idea of the science understandings and skills displayed by students performing at different levels on the TIMSS science achievement scale, TIMSS described performance at four international benchmarks. These benchmarks are standards that describe what students can be expected to know and do at a designated degree of proficiency.

• At the top 10% benchmark students demonstrated a grasp of complex and abstract concepts.

• At the upper 25% benchmark students demonstrated conceptual understanding of science cycles, systems, and principles.

• At the upper 50% benchmark students can communicate basic scientific knowledge across a range of topics.

• At the upper 75 % benchmark students recognize basic facts presented in non-technical language from earth, life, and physical sciences.

These benchmark descriptions will be one of the pieces of information that the district will be able to immediately use. These benchmark descriptions of student performance will allow individual teachers to analyze the standards to which they hold students accountable as they design quality learning experiences for their students.

In addition, these descriptors will allow the district to develop assessments that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum.

As you can see, the percentage of District 203 eighth graders at each benchmark exceeded the expectation percentage, the United States percentage, and the international top 5 average percentage. The data on eighth grade student science achievement in relationship to each benchmark, mirrors at a higher percentage, District 203 mathematics achievement percentages.

• 33% of District 203 8th graders scored in the top ten percent benchmark.
• 64 % of District 203 8th graders scored in the upper 25% BENCHMARK.
• 90% of District 203 8th graders scored at the UPPER 50% benchmark.

THIS DATA SPEAKS TO District 203 students labeled as in the middle, and indicates these students are obtaining a level of scientific competency that allows them to compete in the international arena.

98 % of District 203 8th graders scored at the UPPER 75% BENCHMARK.