WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About a quarter of U.S. students are proficient in geography, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Twenty-one percent of fourth-graders, 27 percent of eighth graders, and 20 percent of 12th graders performed at or above the proficient level on the 2010 geography assessment conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Performance among fourth graders improved since 2001, while eighth grade results were little changed, and achievement by 12th graders declined from 1994 levels when the assessment was first conducted.
Also known as the Nation's Report Card, the survey is the last in a round of three highlighting stagnating or declining overall achievement among U.S. students in the social sciences, a statement said.
"In particular, the pattern of disappointing results for our 12th graders' performance across all three social science subjects should be of great concern to everyone," chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for the report.
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