Minnesota’s 8th graders were in the lead pack of nations and states in the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) released in December. Minnesota 8th graders ranked sixth in science and seventh in the world in mathematics. About 2,500 Minnesota 8th graders in 55 schools participated in the study.
Most impressive was the 15 percentage point increase made by Minnesota 8th graders from 2007 to 2011. That’s three times the U.S. average and the third greatest increase of all nations taking both the 2007 and 2011 tests. While these are different students and subject to sampling error, this is good news and Commissioner Cassellius is right to say, “Our students should stand proud to be ranked among the best in the world for math and science.” View more details about the study.