Eighth-graders in Kentucky are scoring higher than their national counterparts in science in what's known as the "nation's report card." The Kentucky Department of Education reports that for 2011, the state's average score was 157, compared with the national average of 151. The grading scale goes from 0 to 300.
The last time the test was taken, in 2009, Kentucky students had an average score of 156, while the national average was 149.
The scores were released Thursday by the US Department of Education.
The test, called the National Assessment of Educational Progress, was given last year to more than 120,000 8th graders from 7,300 schools nationwide. The national testing program mandated by Congress also tests 4th, 8th, and 12th graders in math, reading, and other subjects.